Service Description

Aged Mental Health Care Services (AMHCS) is a State Government organization funded to provide specialist mental health services for older people.

The Country Liaison Service currently provides a visiting and/or remote consultation and liaison service to the 7 Country Health Regions of South Australia.

This service, provided by the specialist staff of Aged Mental Health Care Services (AMHCS), allows for;

• Direct clinical assessments of clients in their usual place of residence.
• Video-conferencing based assessments of clients.
• Assistance to service providers with formulating management plans.
• A remote consultation service for service providers.
• Assistance with pre-admission and discharge planning should an inpatient admission to AMHCS Hospital beds in Adelaide be required.
• Education for service providers on topics relating to the mental health issues of Older People.
• Provision of information and education for members of the general community.

For acceptance by AMHCS as a client the person must be 65 years of age or over, 45 years of age if of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island descent.

The most common reasons for referral to AMHCS are for problems such as depression, delusional disorders or dementia where there is a coexisting mental health problem or challenging behaviours.

Referral Process

Referral processes have been negotiated on a region by region basis and hence are specific to the needs of each region and not uniform across regions. For region specific information please visit the Regional Services page.

The following general principles apply across regions;

1. Clients must be aged 65 years or over, 45 years or over if of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island descent.
2. The involvement of the client's General Practitioner is required.
3. The referral has been discussed with the client and, if appropriate, their significant others.
4. Causative or contributing physical health problems have been investigated and the results of such screens made available, where possible at the time of referral.

A copy of the referral form and other associated documents can be downloaded from the download page.

Information about the service is also available on Human Services Finder

Involvement of the General Practitioner

Aged Mental Health Care Services, Country Liaison Service (AMHCS,CLS) requires the participation of the clients General Practitioner before it can accept and respond to a referral for a clinical assessment.

We are happy to discuss a potential client’s current circumstances with service providers and to assist with planning care or formulating a management plan without a formal referral being lodged.

It is the responsibility of the referring party to discuss referral to AMHCS,CLS with the GP prior to lodging a referral with our service.

The information provided by the GP (medical history, medications, investigations etc.) is vital in assisting us to undertake our assessment. Discussion of the reasons for referral with the GP in the first instance can also allow for a local response that may reduce the need for the involvement of AMHCS,CLS.

There is a specific question on the AMHCS,CLS referral form that allows the person completing the referral (if not the GP) to indicate that discussion with the GP has occurred.

It is not necessary or expected that a GP will complete the referral form themselves but it is desirable that the GP is aware of the information being provided and is given the opportunity to provide additional information thought relevant.

Failure to involve the GP in the referral process is counterproductive and delays provision of the assessment.

The timely completion and lodgement of the referral form is necessary to allow our service adequate time to check on past history and to discuss with the relevant consultant psychiatrist the need for clarification and/or additional information. Our response to each referral is triaged on the basis of the information made available to us.

The quality of the assessment that we are able to provide is directly related to the information that we have available to us. The contribution of service providers, carers and family members is highly valued.

It is also necessary that referral to our service is discussed with the client and/or their significant others or guardian before a referral is lodged and that this be clearly indicated on the appropriate section of the referral form.