Mental Health Services
Our Mental Health and Counselling team offers a wide range of evidence-based therapeutic and psychosocial supports. Our clinicians include social workers, mental health nurses, psychologists, counsellors and peer workers.
Services operate from all BCH sites, with the Mental Health Hub at our Cooinda site on Learmonth Road.
If it’s an emergency or you need urgent help, call triple zero (000). Lifeline 13 11 14. Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467.
Contact
Phone (03) 5338 4500
For general enquiries please email
ReferralNet ID ballaratmh
For referrals please complete the form on this page
Early intervention
When life feels overwhelming, you don’t have to wait until things get worse before reaching out. Whether you’re stressed, anxious, low in mood, struggling with relationships, adjusting to a major life change, or simply don’t feel like yourself, our Early Intervention team provides free and low-cost short-term support to help you build skills, strengthen wellbeing and regain confidence. Getting support early can make a significant difference to recovery, and can help prevent challenges becoming more complex and overwhelming.
Working together, we will help you identify what is most important to you, understand what is contributing to your current concerns, and develop practical strategies to improve your mental health and wellbeing.
What we help with
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Stress, anxiety and low mood
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Life transitions and adjustment
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Relationship and family challenges
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Grief and loss
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Social isolation and loneliness
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Building resilience and coping skills
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Managing everyday pressures
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Emotional wellbeing
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Returning to work, study or community activities
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Connecting with local supports and services
What to expect
After an initial conversation with our intake team, experienced clinicians will work alongside you to develop a personalised plan based on your goals. Support may include:
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Individual counselling
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Brief therapeutic interventions
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Mental health education
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Practical strategies to improve wellbeing
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Goal setting and recovery planning
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Referral to additional services where appropriate
Support is collaborative, evidence-based, and focused on helping you develop the skills and confidence to manage life’s challenges both now and into the future.
Who it’s for
This service suits people experiencing mild to moderate mental health concerns who would benefit from early support. You don’t need to be in crisis to access help. If your needs change over time, we’ll work with you to make sure you’re connected with the most appropriate supports.
Complex care
Living with ongoing or complex mental health concerns can affect every part of life, from relationships and employment to physical health, housing, and connection with your community. When things feel complicated, you don’t have to navigate them alone.
Our Complex Care team provides coordinated, recovery-focused support for people experiencing significant or persistent mental health challenges, including needs arising from mental illness, psychosocial factors, involvement with multiple services, or forensic mental health needs. Recovery looks different for everyone, and we work alongside you at your pace towards the goals that matter most to you.
What we help with
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Persistent or recurring mental health concerns
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Severe or complex mental health presentations
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Significant impacts on daily functioning, independence or quality of life
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Complex life circumstances requiring support from multiple services
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Social isolation
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Forensic mental health needs, including people involved with, or transitioning from, the justice system
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Challenges navigating health, justice, housing and community support systems
What to expect
Our multidisciplinary team works with you to develop an individualised recovery plan that reflects your strengths, priorities and aspirations. Support may include:
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Comprehensive mental health care planning
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Evidence-based therapeutic interventions
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Care coordination across health, justice, housing, alcohol and other drug, and community services
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Support with community corrections or forensic mental health services where appropriate
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Psychosocial support to build independence and daily living skills
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Family and carer involvement where appropriate
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Relapse prevention, wellbeing planning and ongoing recovery support
We understand that recovery can occur alongside complex life experiences, including involvement with the justice system. We provide respectful, trauma-informed care focused on strengths, hope, accountability and building a meaningful future.
Who it’s for
Complex Care is designed for people whose mental health needs require coordinated, multidisciplinary or longer-term support. This includes people living with persistent mental illness, people managing multiple interacting challenges, and people with forensic mental health needs. We work closely with GPs, community organisations, forensic mental health providers, correctional services and other support providers so that care is connected and centred on your goals.
Peer support
Sometimes the most powerful support comes from someone who has walked a similar path. Our peer workers are people with lived experience of mental health challenges and recovery, and they understand that recovery is personal, non-linear, and looks different for everyone.
Using their lived experience alongside professional training, peer workers provide hope, encouragement and practical support. A peer worker works alongside you as an equal, helping you discover your strengths, build confidence, and connect with the people, places and activities that matter most to you.
What we help with
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Build hope and confidence in your recovery
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Feel heard, understood and accepted without judgement
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Develop meaningful goals based on what matters to you
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Strengthen your wellbeing and resilience
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Build social connections and reduce isolation
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Navigate services and supports with more confidence
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Connect with community activities and opportunities
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Explore self-management strategies and recovery tools
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Build independence and reconnect with everyday life
What to expect
Peer support is based on shared understanding, mutual respect and genuine connection. Your peer worker may support you by:
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Sharing hope through lived experience where appropriate
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Walking alongside you throughout your recovery
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Helping you identify your strengths and personal goals
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Exploring strategies that have helped others in recovery
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Connecting you with community groups and local activities
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Supporting you to build confidence and self-advocacy
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Working alongside your broader care team when appropriate
Peer support complements clinical care but is different. It focuses on relationships, empowerment, and the belief that recovery is possible for everyone.
Who it’s for
Peer support is available to anyone who would benefit from connecting with someone who understands mental health challenges through lived experience. Whether you’re new to seeking support, moving between services, managing ongoing challenges, or simply looking to reconnect with your community, our peer workers can walk alongside you.