As Tasmanians face a critical shortage of psychologist services, leading not-for-profit health and wellness organisation St Lukes is expanding access to mental health support, helping people connect with a psychologist within hours.
St Lukes is partnering with Talked, an Australian online psychology platform, giving eligible members* access to a psychologist within 12 hours, seven days a week, and even after-hours. Secure video, phone or webchat are all available, plus a resource library.
St Lukes Chief Health Officer, Luke Cameron, said the program aims to meet an urgent need for greater mental health support.
“Around 90,000 Tasmanians experience mental health challenges every day, with a further 125,000 at risk of developing mental ill health[1],” he said.
“Tasmania faces higher rates of long-term mental health conditions than the national average, including high rates of suicide, yet Medicare data shows fewer Tasmanians are accessing mental health services.”
Mr Cameron said access, affordability and workforce challenges continued to prevent many Tasmanians from getting psychological help early, when intervention can have the greatest impact.
“Tasmanians can wait months for an appointment while their mental health worsens, conditions become more complex and recovery time increases, potentially leading to inpatient admission,” he said
“Early intervention is key, but we know one of the biggest barriers is often simply having somewhere to start.
“Many people recognise they are struggling or would benefit from support, but they’re unsure about who to speak to, how long they’ll wait and what it will cost.
“That is where this partnership can make a real difference. By connecting members with a psychologist within hours and providing a funded first session, we are helping take the uncertainty out of accessing care and making it easier to begin.”
St Lukes is joining forces with Talked to give Tasmanians access to mental health support from psychologists across Australia, helping more people get the right help at the right time and relieving demand on the state’s existing mental health system.
“At St Lukes, we believe no one should have to navigate their health journey alone,” Mr Cameron said.
“By creating a clearer pathway into care, we're making it easier for people to seek support earlier and stay connected to the help they need.
“That's good for our members, good for the health system and another important step towards making Tasmania the healthiest island on the planet.”
Talked Founder and CEO Ben Southall said the model made it easier for regional Tasmanians to find the right psychologist.
“A good outcome depends largely on the therapeutic relationship, so getting the match between psychologist and member right really matters.” he said.
“Talked has more than 100 AHPRA-registered psychologists with different specialisations, providing culturally diverse support. You get a free matching conversation before committing to a session. We provide ongoing care with mental health assessments and check-ins.”
Dr Sadhbh Joyce, Head of Clinical at Talked, said telehealth had been shown to be just as effective as face-to-face psychological support.
“The most important factor in reducing the progression of mental health issues is how quickly you can get help, not being in the same room as your psychologist,” Dr Joyce said.
“Talked provides immediate care to reduce symptom severity and prevent escalation to crisis. We make connections with your GP to further develop your Medicare-integrated mental health plan and ensure you get face-to-face support where needed.
“It’s important to note however that this tool is best suited to preventative or early intervention care, or ongoing mental health maintenance. In an acute mental health crisis, people should seek urgent local medical care.”
Eligible St Lukes members can receive one free 50-minute session with a qualified psychologist each calendar yearÙ on top of their mental wellness benefit limits on their policy.
To learn more about the service, visit https://www.stlukes.com.au/mental-health-support.
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Media contact: Jacquie Ray | Timmins Ray Public Relations | 0429 683 779