healthAbility’s After-Hours Mental Health Nursing Service (AHMHNS) provides vital support for people facing mild to moderate mental health challenges during hours when other services are unavailable.
Funded by the Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network, AHMHNS was established in 2019 to reduce emergency department (ED) demand and improve mental health outcomes by offering timely, community-based support for semi-urgent and non-urgent cases. Adapting to evolving needs during COVID-19, the AHMHNS has increased yearly sessions of support by 21.6% since its first full year of operation. This is projected to increase by a further 23% per year with the addition of lived experience workforce (LEW).
The AHMHNS eliminates common barriers to care by offering free, anonymous, and immediate support on weeknights and weekends, with no appointment, referral, or Medicare card required. Clients can access help in person, via phone, telehealth, or email.
The service aims to:
- Reduce ED presentations for mental health concerns
- Provide accessible, community-based interventions
- Improve outcomes through brief interventions and referrals
- Strengthen integration with general practitioners (GPs) and other care providers
A key measure of success is diversion; an independent evaluation found that the AHMHNS diverts around 40% of semi-urgent and non-urgent ED presentations. By working across primary, tertiary, and social care systems, it ensures clients share their story once while receiving continuous, coordinated support. This value-driven model enhances individual outcomes and delivers significant healthcare system savings.
