Mental Health
- Phone: 1800 595 212
- Secure Messaging (via HealthLink, EDI: nsydmmhc)
Medicare Mental Health
The Medicare Mental Health Line (1800 595 212) operates Monday – Friday, 8:30am – 5:00pm (excluding public holidays)
About
The Medicare Mental Health Line (operated in the Northern Sydney region by PCCS) now provides a central point for intake, assessment, and referral to appropriate local mental health, psychosocial and AOD services for people who are not in crisis. These services have been commissioned by Sydney North Health Network to meet the needs of the community and support general practice and the wider mental health sector.
While Medicare Mental Health has commenced as the new intake service, the SNHN Mental Health Triage Line will continue to operate during a transition period until 30 June 2026.
This is to ensure continuity of care while the referral pathway transitions.
From 30 June 2026, the SNHN Mental Health Triage Line will no longer operate.
What this means for GPs and other referrers
From now until 30 June:
- Referrals should be directed to Medicare Mental Health.
- Referrals to the Sydney North Health Network Mental Health Triage Line will be supported during the transition period.
- It is recommended you replace the Sydney North Health Network Mental Health Triage Line with Medicare Mental Health in your clinical software address book.
From 30 June:
- All referrals should be directed to Medicare Mental Health*.
- The SNHN Mental Health Triage Line will close.
*There are no changes to how GPs refer patients to private providers – please continue to follow usual process when referring to private psychologists. Medicare Mental Health should be used to refer patients to SNHN-funded mental health services. SNHN services are at no cost to patients.
How to refer
General Practitioners and others who previously referred to the SNHN Mental Health Triage Line should now direct referrals to Medicare Mental Health (MMH), using any of the following:
- Phone: 1800 595 212 (Mon–Fri, 8:30am – 5:00pm, except public holidays)
- Email: nswintake@pccs.org.au
- HealthLink EDI: nsydmmhc
- Referral form (PDF)
- Referral form (RTF template for Best Practice and Medical Director)
- Important: Do not open or view this template before importing into your clinical software. Opening the template in Word or your internet browser will corrupt the file, requiring you to download it again. You will need to right-click, copy and save or drag the .RTF template onto your desktop. Please read the instructions below on importing .RTF templates into Best Practice and Medical Director.
- Instructions for importing templates into Best Practice
- Instructions for importing templates into Medical Director
- Important: Do not open or view this template before importing into your clinical software. Opening the template in Word or your internet browser will corrupt the file, requiring you to download it again. You will need to right-click, copy and save or drag the .RTF template onto your desktop. Please read the instructions below on importing .RTF templates into Best Practice and Medical Director.
Which service should I use?
| Scenario | Service | Key details |
| Patient needs mental health support but is not in crisis | Medicare Mental Health (1800 595 212) | Central intake for SNHN-commissioned services. Provides assessment, care navigation and referral (Mon–Fri, 8:30am – 5:00pm). |
| Patient has acute risk, deterioration, or needs urgent assessment | NSW Mental Health Line (1800 011 511) | 24/7 statewide crisis and acute mental health triage service linked to NSW Health services. |
What is NOT changing
- The NSW Mental Health Line remains the pathway for urgent and crisis care
- Access to SNHN-commissioned services continues via referral
- You may still refer directly to known providers where appropriate (e.g. via LinkUp)
How referrals will now be managed
Referrals through Medicare Mental Health will:
- be reviewed by clinicians
- include an initial assessment
- be directed to the most appropriate local service