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What we do
Short Term Treatment Team (STTT) is a mental health multidisciplinary team and operates 7 days a week to provide access to community based crisis assessment, support, and specialist treatment
With STTT brief therapy options draw heavily on solution focus models and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy based interventions and include: Psychoeducation, Alcohol and Other Drug awareness sessions, medication education sessions, and problem solving and anxiety management strategies.
Who we care for
This service is provided to people who are experiencing crisis and/or severe symptoms of a mental illness that require intensive monitoring and can be safely treated within the community setting. People who may access this service may be experiencing psychosis, acute emotional distress, major mental illness such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, delusional disorder, major depression and borderline personality disorder.
How to access this service
This service can be accessed via Mental Health Regional Triage Service 1300 363 788.
Commonly asked questions
How long will I be seen for?
The STTT will determine this with the person receiving the service and consult with family/carer and other services that may be involved. The usual length of treatment is between 1-4 weeks.
What if I need longer period of treatment?
If longer term clinical interventions are deemed appropriate, STTT will refer onto the relevant MHS/service provider.
What if I cannot attend an appointment or fail to attend?
If a person fails to attend for any scheduled appointment, the response will be determined by the level of clinical risk.
The clinician who is allocated to conduct the assessment or review should inform the referring agency of the non-attendance, and also attempt to engage the patient his or her carer/family/next of kin in a manner consistent with the available presenting history and assessment of risk identified. All non-attendances will be discussed with the relevant consultant psychiatrist.
Where will my appointments occur?
Most appointments occur in the person's home. Where risk may be present an alternate location can be negotiated or determined by the team.
How often will I be seen?
The frequency of face to face contact is based on clinical need and the psychiatrist’s recommendation or direction.
- Phone calls are an adjunct for direct contact, and are acceptable for information delivery only, or as a specific intervention agreed to in the treatment or recovery plan
- Video conferencing can provide a flexible alternative mode of contact for some patients. If it is an ongoing arrangement with the patient it needs to be included in the recovery plan.
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- Short Term Treatment Team (STTT)
How to refer your patient
STTT will communicate with appropriate emergency department and community area mental health services regarding all appropriate responses. STTT also engages with emergency services including police and ambulance.
Referrals via Triage will be assessed within the designated time frame for the triage category, however if this is not possible, this the triage clinician will ensure alternative arrangements are made to respond to service demands or notify the manager or delegate to assist in resolving the matter.
Mental Health Regional Triage Service 1300 363 788. (24 hours a day, 7 days per week).
Clinical service overview
Short Term Treatment Team (STTT) – The community outreach provides short term support and treatment to people experiencing psychiatric crisis. STTT provides community based assessment and follow up for all ages requiring acute treatment and operates between 8.30am-10pm 7 days
A response is generally required when the mental healthcare needs of a person are beyond family, friends or usual care approaches, and when one or more of the following occurs: Severe and acute psychological distress with risk of serious harm to the person or others, rapid first onset illness and distress, acute relapse of a pre-existing mental illness. The team will also provide a response for an unplanned presentation to a mental health service by an existing or recently discharged consumer (patient) because they are in psychiatric crisis, or if a patient has recurrent presentation to an emergency department as a result of drug or alcohol intoxication and high-risk behaviour in the context of a probable mental illness.
STTT provides flexible urgent assessment and care with the presumption of capacity as the foundation of the supported decision making model of care. The team will arrange a timely face-to-face assessment in a community setting location. The team provide short-term treatment (1-4 weeks) as an adjunct or alternative to acute inpatient treatment. For patients who require longer-term clinical interventions, STTT will refer onto the relevant MHS/service provider. For patients who require more appropriate treatment/supported care interventions STTT will refer onto the relevant service provider e.g. AOD Services, Accommodation Support.