This service will operate seven days a week, 365 days a year (including public holidays), with walk-ins expected from mid January at a new site in Walker Street, Townsville.

Using a community-based co-design process, the service and the building when operational, will enable people to walk in to receive support from a predominately lived experience workforce, who are all local. Having experienced a mental health crisis, our team members understand what those in crisis might be going through. 

Townsville Head to Health is a welcoming, safe, and inclusive way to support community mental health and wellbeing. The service will provide, and connect people to, the right support when and where it is needed, including: 

• immediate support for people in crisis
• timely access to short-term support to meet immediate mental health needs
• help to access local support to meet mental health needs 
• information, navigation, and referral for people seeking mental health support for themselves or others. 

The goal is to collaborate with the local community, clinical, and health services. Working together, a ‘no wrong door’ approach can be offered and provide better access to mental health and wellbeing support.

Head to Health peer wellbeing coaches will be answering calls and providing support during the Christmas and New Year period to ensure that anyone who needs help will receive it during what can be a stressful time.

Referrals are not necessary however a telephone referral can be made to (07) 4766 8444. 

Head to Health are funded as part of the Federal Government’s 2019-20 ‘Prioritising Mental Health’ $2.3 billion budget measure. The first eight funded Head to Health are pilots, with one in each state/territory. Alongside service delivery, they provide an opportunity to learn about the mental health needs of the local community and to deliver new ways of working.

Northern Queensland PHN commissioned Neami National to provide the Head to Health Service and have been working in partnership to deliver this service to meet local needs.

There will be an official site launch in January followed by a series of open mornings during February for anyone to visit and talk to the lived experience teams about the service. More information will be available shortly.

Townsville Head to Health operating hours:

10am – 8pm – Monday to Friday 12pm – 8pm – Saturday, Sunday, and public holidays Phone Number: (07) 4766 8444