Mental Health Emergency Response Line (1300 555 788) and RuralLink (1800 552 002)

The Mental Health Emergency Response Line (MHERL) offers a 24-hour specialist mental health central call centre, staffed by experienced mental health professionals who take calls from people needing assistance with mental health issues. RuralLink is MHERL’s regional and remote phone service partner that operates out of normal weekday hours.  Both create  an integrated, state-wide clinical mental health phone support service, which is operated by the East Metropolitan Health Service.

The Mental Health Emergency Response Line (MHERL) and RuralLink provide: 

• initial advice and assessment 
• clinical  guidance and support 
• referral to Community Mental Health Teams and relevant community services across the state. 

How does it work?
When clinicians at the Mental Health Emergency Response Line or Rural Link receive a call, they can provide phone based mental health assessment and support and, if required, referral to other services. 
If the situation requires a rapid mental health response, the local community mental health service (closest to the location of the callers will be contacted to offer appropriate face to face assistance.

Who should use these services?
People who have or support someone with a current and more immediate mental health concerns. This includes: 

• individuals who believe they require phone assistance 
• families or carers of those with a mental illness 
• members of the public who witness a mental health crisis and require assistance. 
• police officers and any other welfare/community service providers 

who may need to support someone in mental health distress or crisis 

How Can Metropolitan Based, Community After-hours Treatment Teams support MHERL and Rural Link?
Community After-hours Treatment Teams are located in specific locations across the Metropolitan area and some limited after hours services are offered in larger regional centres.  These teams allow for more timely and responsive follow up for those MHERL and RuralLink callers that clinicians believe need face to face mental health treatment and care

When are mental health crisis clinical phone services available?
These two phone line services operate alongside normal mental health services, hence phone support up is available 24 hours a day.

If a community outreach response is required:  

• Calls taken during business hours will go directly to local area mental health services.
• Calls outside business hours will be referred to the Community After-hours Treatment Teams available across Perth and in limited regional centres across WA.