Canberrans with mild depression and anxiety will soon be offered mental health ''coaches'' as part of a $13.25 million trial by not-for-profit organisation beyondblue.
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NewAccess is a free early intervention program based on a successful British model and the first trial will be launched at the ACT Medicare Local in Canberra on Tuesday morning.
Its creators say the program is designed to ease the burden on services by offering low-intensity support to people with mild mental ill health. It will include workers trained to assess clients' needs and give them self-help strategies and support - and will be delivered in face-to-face meetings, over the phone and online.
Beyondblue deputy chief executive Clare Shann said the coaches would complete a year-long training program and be supervised by an experienced mental health professional.
''The idea is to utilise workers - as we're calling them, access coaches - who aren't currently working in the health system,'' she said. ''We know in many areas of Australia there are workforce shortages and we're quite interested to prove up a model that demonstrates the effectiveness of this approach.''
Ms Shann said under NewAccess the intensity of treatment would be matched to the severity of the mental illness of clients.
She said in Britain coaches were described as ''like a personal trainer for your mind'' - someone who could act as a sounding board to keep clients on track.
''You use the expert or the coach or the trainer to provide you with an assessment, you work out with them what your goals are, what you want to achieve and how you will get there … but you play a really big part in implementing that program,'' Ms Shann said.
She said coaches may also help clients connect with other services, including help with housing or financial management.
''It's about that coach knowing what's available locally in Canberra and linking that person into the services and support that are going to help them,'' she said.
The trial is funded jointly by beyondblue and Movember and will be trialled in Canberra and at two other sites over two years.
It will be open to all ACT residents when it launches in October and, if successful, will be expanded to elsewhere in Australia.
Recruitment has begun for coach positions and GPs will be able to refer patients to the free service or people will be able access it directly.
