Community support and treatment services
Support services
Community support services provide support to individuals, families and carers to help with mental health, alcohol or other drug issues.
They include:
- self help and group programs
- personalised support services to enable people to remain in their home or local community
- programs for families and carers
- WA Recovery College (peer-led education)
- mental health nursing case management (MH Connext by WAPHA)
- mobile outreach services, drop in centres and sobering up centres
- Adult Mental Health Centres - Midland Head to Health is a walk-in service for adults aged 18+ as is open 10am-8pm everyday of the year.
- harm reduction services such as needle and syringe programs, and opioid overdose prevention.
- Individualised funded programs such as the Individualised Community Living Strategy, Pilot Youth Psychosocial Support Program and the Pilot Youth Transitional Housing and Support Program.
Many services will accept self-referrals. Some may require a referral from a General Practitioner, private psychiatrist or public mental health service. We recommend you check with the service you’re interested in to make sure.
If you have a significant psychosocial disability that is likely to be permanent, you may qualify for NDIS support. Find out more information here, access the forms here or read the GP guide here.
To find a service, please search in the My Services online directory.
To find online forums for mental health support or support via a helpline, please visit those pages.
Counselling
Counselling gives you the opportunity to discuss issues that are causing you concern in a safe and supportive environment.
Many people find that talking with a trained counsellor helps them to work out better ways to deal with issues in their life or relationships.
Anyone concerned about themselves or someone else can go to counselling.
Providers of counselling services include:
- government-funded community mental health services
- Community Alcohol and Drug Services (in every region of Western Australia)
- Psychologists and other private practitioners
Mental health services may require a referral from a General Practitioner, private psychiatrist or public mental health service. We recommend you check with the service you’re interested in to make sure.
Alcohol and drug services will accept self-referrals. Typically you will need to make an appointment.
Visit the My Services online services directory to find counselling services near you. You can search by your own location, or 'Restart' your search and search for services in a major town or city.
See a General Practitioner in the first instance to discuss your options.
Helplines are also available for immediate support and may provide counselling over the phone.
Next Step and Community alcohol and drug services
Community alcohol and drug services (CADS) are free and confidential and provide individuals and their families with alcohol and other drug treatment and support services in the community.
Services are provided for people aged 14 years and over, their carers and their families. CADS will also provide support for families and services dealing with people younger than 14 years.
Individuals do not require a referral and can self-refer by calling or attending their nearest CADS. External clinicians and services can refer by completing the following form. For more information go to the Community Alcohol and Drug Services page.
The Next Step Drug and Alcohol Services (Next Step) provide a range of treatment services for people experiencing problems associated with their alcohol and other drug use, as well as support for families. The East Metropolitan Health Service is funded to deliver Next Step clinical services.
The services provided by Next Step include:
- Outpatient services at East Perth and via integrated Community Alcohol and Drug Services at six metropolitan locations
- the Inpatient Withdrawal Unit at East Perth
- Outpatient and medical support for young people via the integrated Drug and Alcohol Youth Service
- Community Pharmacotherapy Program
For more information go to the Next Step page.
Clinical mental health services
The State Government provides clinical (psychiatry-supported) services via Community Mental Health Services in every region of Western Australia.
Clinical mental health treatment and care is provided for children, adolescents, adults and older people by public health service providers. These are supported by hospital services in major centres.
Private providers may also provide clinical services in the community.
To find government-funded clinical community mental health services, search in the My Services online directory. You can search by your own location, or 'Restart' your search and search for services in a major town or city.
To access these services you will generally need a referral from a General Practitioner or other health care provider.
If you are looking for a phone service, please visit the helplines page. If you are looking for a bed-based or inpatient service, please visit those pages.