I'm a Health Professional
About SANE's Guided Service
SANE’s free guided service combines our range of digital and telehealth supports, tailored to the needs of people affected by complex mental health issues. Connecting participants with a dedicated support team of mental health professionals across lived experience and mental health counselling, our guided service provides connection, community, and continuity of support.
Developed through a comprehensive codesign process with ALIVE – the National Centre for Mental Health Research Translation – and drawing from the latest evidence and lived experience insights, the guided service meets growing demand and complements treatment pathways.
Our team works with participants to create a flexible and personalised support plan. The one-on-one contact with a peer support worker, professional counselling, lived experience forums, and a range of activities and initiatives will help participants set goals for their recovery and learn the skills to better manage their mental health.
They will also have their own secure online portal, where all their goals, appointments, booking tools, and resources are easily available. Their support team will check in regularly to ensure the program is working for them, offer support, and adjust their plan, if required.
Benefits of a tailored support plan:
- improved recovery (mental, physical, and emotional)
- increased social connectedness
- improved quality of life
- reduced waiting times for mental health support.
Make a referral
People who would benefit from our guided service
The support team will assess suitability after your referral by discussing their involvement with your client. At the stage of referral, all you need is a belief they would benefit from a tailored plan and personalised support. Perhaps they are on a waiting list or you notice they are missing opportunities for accessing care or need guidance to build a strong support network. Or would benefit from counselling or connecting with people with lived experience of complex mental health and trauma issues. These are good reasons to get the consent of your client and refer them to the service.
Eligibility
Participants in the guided service must be over 18 years of age, reside in an eligible region, and be affected by complex mental health issues.
Complex mental health issues are those that have a significant impact on the person’s daily life, their relationships as well as their work. They include, but aren’t restricted to, schizophrenia, complex trauma, psychosis, bi-polar and borderline personality disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and eating disorders. They may be persistent, treatment resistant, rare or trauma-related. We also consider co-occurring mental health issues and intellectual disability or autism as complex mental health issues.
Regions participating in the service
The service is being rolled out across Australia from mid-2022 and available in a number of regions. The person must be a resident within a participating region to take part.
Currently the service is available in the five following regions:
- North Western Melbourne regions
- Central Queensland, Wide Bay and Sunshine Coast regions
- Central and Eastern Sydney regions
- Brisbane North regions
- Capital (Canberra) regions
Other regions will come on board by August 2022, so keep checking back to this page to see if your area is a participant.
Suitability
Soon after receiving your referral, we will speak to the referred person to assess their suitability for the service. Our assessment will account for their:
- Mental health acuity, including the level of complexity and engagement with specialised clinical supports.
- Stable access to online and mobile technology.
Their engagement with their mental health recovery and willingness to engage with mental health services and other supports.
Referral
To join this service, a referral is required. Anyone can refer themselves, or a health professional, close family member, carer, or local Primary Health Network can also refer.
SANE is running a series of educational webinars on the guided service for health professionals.
Click here to register
SANE's guided service webinars
To support health professionals referring patients into the guided service, SANE is running/facilitating a webinar series to outline benefits and outcomes for patients, how to refer, and the framework upon which the service is built.
In this webinar the team at SANE will share:
- What we offer and who can benefit from our innovative new service to streamline the process of seeking support and help connect the mental health system
- An overview of our brand-new digital portal offering a free, easy to use and holistic platform for recovery
- An introduction to our referral hub to help you connect your clients with our service
It’s time to bridge the gaps in Australia’s mental health system. In 2022 and beyond we need to keep breaking barriers, pushing boundaries, taking action, and making space for people with complex mental health issues.
Registration
Sep 7 2022 – 2:00-2:45PM (EST)
Oct 5 2022 – 2:00-2:45PM (EST)
Assessment
The assessment will be made by our support team and you will be told the outcome. If we do not feel the service will be appropriate for them, our support worker will guide them towards more suitable help, including SANE's drop-in services.
For more information see the Guided Service FAQ.
Make a referral
SANE received funding from the Australian Government to develop and deliver the guided service.
I'm a carer
About SANE's Guided Service
SANE’s free guided service combines our range of digital and telehealth supports, tailored to the needs and preferences of participants.
This service connects people with complex mental health issues with a dedicated support team of mental health professionals across lived experience and mental health counselling. Together, they will create a flexible and personalised support plan.
And if you are a family member or carer of someone with complex mental health issues, the guided service can also help you. Our team can give you the structured support and advice you need.
The one-on-one contact with a peer support worker, professional counselling, carer forums, and a range of activities and initiatives will help participants set goals and learn the self-care skills to better manage their own wellbeing.
Participants will also have their own secure online portal, where all their goals, appointments, booking tools, and resources are easily available. A dedicated support team will check in regularly to ensure the program is working for them, offer support, and adjust their plan, if required.
The benefits of a tailored support plan are:
- improved recovery (mental, physical, and emotional)
- increased social connectedness
- improved quality of life
- reduced waiting times for mental health support.
For more information about the service, view our Guided Service FAQ.
Make a referral
Who is eligible?
The guided service is open to anyone who is affected by complex mental health issues (including family members and carers), who is over 18 years of age and living in one of the Primary Health Networks taking part.
Complex mental health issues are those that have a significant impact on the person’s daily life, relationships as well as their work. They include, but aren’t restricted to, schizophrenia, complex trauma, psychosis, bi-polar and borderline personality disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and eating disorders. They may be persistent, treatment resistant, rare or trauma-related. We also consider co-occurring mental health issues and intellectual disability or autism as complex mental health issues.
Regions participating in the service
The service is being rolled out across Australia from mid-2022 and available in a number of regions. The person must be a resident within a participating region to take part.
Currently the service is available in the five following regions:
- North Western Melbourne regions
- Central Queensland, Wide Bay and Sunshine Coast regions
- Central and Eastern Sydney regions
- Brisbane North regions
- Capital (Canberra) regions
Other regions will come on board by August 2022, so keep checking back to this page to see if your area is a participant.
What happens next?
Those who do not fulfill the eligibility criteria will receive an email explaining why, directing them to our other services, including drop-in counselling, community forums and online peer support.
Eligible candidates will be contacted by one of our Welcome Team, who will discuss their situation and needs. They will go through how the service works, how it can benefit them and what to expect.
Participants will be asked to sign a Participant Consent Agreement that outlines the terms of service. We will provide information and answer any questions to ensure informed consent.
We want participants to get the most from the guided service, so it may turn out that a personalised plan doesn't fit their circumstances. Or they might not be set up to take full benefit from a digital and telehealth service. Support workers will guide them towards more appropriate support, including SANE's drop-in services.
For more information see the Guided Service FAQ.
Make a referral
SANE received funding from the Australian Government to develop and deliver the guided service.
I'm self referring
About SANE's Guided Service
SANE’s free guided service combines our range of digital and telehealth supports, tailored to your needs and preferences.
We will connect you with a dedicated support team of mental health professionals across lived experience and counselling. Together, you will create a flexible and personalised support plan.
The one-on-one contact with a peer support worker, professional counselling, lived experience forums, and a range of activities and initiatives will help you set goals for your recovery and learn the skills to better manage your mental health.
You’ll also have your own secure online portal, where all your goals, appointments, booking tools, and resources are easily available.
Your dedicated support team will check in regularly to ensure the program is working for you, offer support and adjust your plan, if required.
The benefits of a tailored support plan are:
- Improved recovery – mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing
- increased social connectedness
- improved quality of life
- reduced waiting times to access mental health support.
For more information about the service, view our Guided Service FAQ.
Request a referral
Am I eligible?
To be eligible, you must be affected by complex mental health issues, be over 18 years-of-age, and reside in an eligible Primary Health Network area (PHN).
Complex mental health issues are those that have a significant impact on your daily life, relationships as well as your work. They include, but aren’t restricted to, schizophrenia, complex trauma, psychosis, bi-polar and borderline personality disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and eating disorders. They could also be a response to trauma that’s causing high levels of distress that doesn’t fit into a diagnosis, they may be persistent, treatment resistant or rare. We also welcome people with intellectual disability or autism who have a mental health issue.
Self-referral is also open to the family and carers of people with complex mental health issues, but they should complete the Family and Carers Referral form.
Regions participating in the service
The service is being rolled out across Australia from mid-2022 and available in a number of regions. The person must be a resident within a participating region to take part.
Currently the service is available in the five following regions:
- North Western Melbourne regions
- Central Queensland, Wide Bay and Sunshine Coast regions
- Central and Eastern Sydney regions
- Brisbane North regions
- Capital (Canberra) regions
Other regions will come on board by August 2022, so keep checking back to this page to see if your area is a participant.
After I refer myself, what will happen?
If you are not eligible for this specific service, you will receive an email explaining why, directing you to our other services, including drop-in counselling services, community forums and online peer support.
If you meet the eligibility criteria, you will be contacted by our Welcome Team, who will discuss your situation and needs. They will go through how the service works, how it can benefit you and what to expect.
You will be asked to sign a Participant Consent Agreement that outlines the terms of service. We will provide full information and answer any questions to ensure informed consent.
We want you to get the most from this service, so it may turn out that a personalised plan doesn't fit your circumstances. Or you might not be set up to take full benefit from a digital and telehealth service. If this happens, our support worker will guide you towards more appropriate support.
For more information see the Guided Service FAQ.
Request a referral
SANE received funding from the Australian Government to develop and deliver the guided service.
