If you or someone close to you is experiencing acute mental distress in Australia, understanding how the crisis assessment and treatment team (CATT or CAT team) operates can be crucial. This guide is designed for the general Australian public—including individuals, carers, health-conscious readers, and family members—seeking clear, trustworthy information on urgent mental health services. The content is educational and not a substitute for consultation with healthcare professionals. By reading on, you’ll gain insight into how CAT teams help during mental health crises, what symptoms may prompt involvement, access pathways, and guidance for making informed, safe decisions.
Understanding Crisis Assessment and Treatment Teams (CATT) in Australia
A Crisis Assessment and Treatment Team, often referred to as a crisis assessment team, cat team mental health unit, or mental health catt team, is a specialised service available across Australia for people experiencing severe mental health crises. These multidisciplinary teams, commonly composed of psychiatric nurses, social workers, psychiatrists, and psychologists, provide urgent mental health assessment, short-term intensive support, and referral where necessary. CATT services are part of each state and territory’s public health system and help ensure that people in crisis have access to immediate and compassionate care—often outside a hospital setting.
What Does a Crisis Assessment and Treatment Team (CATT) Do?
Crisis Assessment and Treatment Teams play a critical role in Australia’s mental health response system. Their main purpose is to provide rapid assessment, intervention, and support for individuals facing acute psychological distress. They engage with people where they are—at home, in community locations, at hospitals, or even workplaces—minimising the disruption often linked to emergency department visits.
CAT teams are typically available 24/7 and can respond to a wide range of urgent situations, including suicidal thoughts, severe anxiety, psychosis, mania, or extreme emotional distress. Their priority is stabilisation, thorough risk assessment, and linking people to ongoing mental health or community supports when the immediate crisis subsides.
In many cases, the CAT team acts as a front-line resource, ensuring individuals receive the right care at the right time while promoting the safety and wellbeing of the individual and those around them. Importantly, CATT services often collaborate closely with family and carers, recognising their essential support role.
Recognising Signs of a Mental Health Crisis
Understanding when to call upon a crisis assessment and treatment team can make a significant difference. Mental health crises present differently from person to person, but there are common warning signs and symptoms. These may signal that immediate professional assessment and intervention are needed.
Common Symptoms and Warning Signs
- Expressing thoughts of suicide or self-harm
- Severe withdrawal or sudden changes in behaviour
- Delusions, paranoia, or hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t there)
- Extreme mood swings—intense highs (mania) or deep lows (depression)
- Disorganised speech or confused thinking
- Threatening or aggressive behaviour
- Refusal to eat, drink, or care for oneself
- Loss of touch with reality
Sometimes, these symptoms can develop rapidly. If behaviours put the person (or others) at risk, it’s essential to seek immediate support. The CATT team offers expert assessment to gauge risk and determine the safest, least restrictive care approach.
| Symptoms | Possible Underlying Conditions |
|---|---|
| Suicidal thoughts | Major depression, trauma, bipolar disorder |
| Hallucinations or paranoia | Schizophrenia, substance-induced psychosis |
| Extreme agitation or aggression | Bipolar mania, severe anxiety, personality disorders |
| Disorganised speech | Acute psychosis, neurological conditions |
| Withdrawal, refusal of self-care | Major depression, severe anxiety, trauma |
Pro Tip: If you’re unsure whether symptoms meet the criteria for a crisis, it’s safer to seek advice from a local crisis assessment team or call a mental health helpline. Early intervention can greatly reduce harm and provide options other than hospitalisation.
How to Access Crisis Assessment and Treatment Teams in Australia
Each Australian state and territory maintains its own network of crisis assessment and treatment teams, often linked to major public hospitals. While crisis assessment team Melbourne services may differ from those in regional or rural areas, their process is broadly similar nationwide.
To access the CAT team:
- Contact your local CATT service or mental health triage—phone numbers are usually listed on your state or regional health department website
- Emergency rooms can refer patients directly to the CAT team for urgent assessment
- General practitioners (GPs), police, ambulance officers, schools, or community organisations may also initiate a referral
- In many cases, individuals or families can self-refer if they believe a crisis is occurring
Mental health triage services in states such as Victoria operate 24/7 and act as a gateway for quickly connecting to a CATT team. Teams may respond by phone or in person, depending on urgency and risk.
Accessibility may vary according to location, and CATT capacity can be impacted by local demand. In remote communities, telehealth technology or fly-in outreach teams may provide vital crisis response.
For more detailed regional access information, refer to the Healthdirect mental health services resource or your local health authority.
Who Might Need CATT Services? Risk Groups and Scenarios
Crisis assessment and treatment teams are prepared to respond to diverse mental health emergencies. While anyone may experience an acute episode, some groups are at higher risk—either due to underlying health conditions, life circumstances, or social factors.
High-Risk Groups
- People with a diagnosed serious mental illness (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder)
- Individuals experiencing or recovering from trauma or recent bereavement
- Adolescents or young adults with emerging mental health symptoms
- Older adults—especially those becoming socially isolated or confused
- People with a history of suicidal ideation or suicide attempts
- Individuals dealing with substance misuse or withdrawal
- Those facing major life upheavals—separation, job loss, homelessness
Situational risk factors—such as the lack of a trusted support network, financial stress, or recent hospital discharge—can heighten vulnerability to crisis. CATTs are trained in trauma-informed, culturally safe care, and often work closely with Aboriginal health services, LGBTQ+ support organisations, and youth agencies to provide appropriate assistance.
What to Expect: Assessment, Intervention, and Immediate Support
When a CATT team is called, they begin with a thorough risk assessment, focusing on immediate safety, the presenting symptoms, and underlying factors affecting the person’s mental health. Teams typically interview the affected person and may involve family, carers, or other key supports with permission. Confidentiality is maintained, except where safety is at risk.
A typical intervention may include:
- Assessment of mental and physical health status
- Short-term, intensive treatment—often at home
- Medication review (where appropriate)
- Linkage to hospital care if community support is insufficient
- Safety planning and strategies for de-escalation
- Referrals to longer-term mental health or social services
The CATT usually aims to keep people out of hospital unless unavoidable, supporting the least restrictive and most supportive options for each individual situation.
Prevention and Support: Tips for Managing Mental Health Before Crisis Point
Preventing mental health crises involves fostering resilience, spotting early warning signs, and building a reliable network of supports. While not all crises are preventable, practical steps can reduce frequency and severity.
Below is a simple mental health prevention checklist for individuals, families, or carers wanting to foster wellbeing and preparedness.
| Action | Why It’s Helpful |
|---|---|
| Know your local CATT number | Rapid access in case of sudden crisis |
| Create a personalised safety plan | Outlines steps and contacts if symptoms escalate |
| Engage a trusted support person | Assistance with advocacy and monitoring |
| Maintain regular contact with your GP or specialist | Early intervention if symptoms return |
| Practise daily wellness strategies | Reduces baseline stress and supports resilience |
Pro Tip: Use a simple “mood tracker” app or diary to monitor changes over time. Noticing patterns early can prompt help-seeking before symptoms escalate.
Risks, Limitations, and When to Seek Further Medical Help
While CATT services can rapidly respond and support most acute mental health presentations, there are practical limitations. Service availability may fluctuate depending on your area and overall demand. In some cases, urgent hospitalisation or police involvement may be required, especially if safety cannot be maintained in the community.
Some common risks to be aware of include:
- Misinterpreting symptoms: Not all changes in mood or behaviour are signs of a crisis, but persistent, severe, or sudden changes warrant attention
- Stigma and fear: Concern about seeking help may delay contact—CAT teams provide non-judgemental, respectful care
- Confidentiality: Family and carers are involved as appropriate, but each CATT balances privacy laws and the need for collaborative care
Involuntary mental health care (under relevant state legislation) may occasionally be necessary if a person is assessed as an immediate risk. The CATT team will always explain your rights and ensure you’re supported throughout the process.
If someone’s life is in imminent danger—due to self-harm, violence, or severe medical symptoms—call Triple Zero (000) immediately rather than waiting for CAT team assessment.
For additional guidance, consult the Beyond Blue support resources, or access educational information from Black Dog Institute.
Management Pathways: What Happens After Initial Crisis Support?
The involvement of the crisis assessment and treatment team is often just the beginning of a broader journey back to mental health stability. Once the immediate situation has been managed, the CAT team will help coordinate ongoing support—either through ongoing contact, referral to outpatient community mental health services, or recommendations to other medical specialists. This handover ensures continuity of care, tailored to each person’s recovery needs.
In most cases, families and carers are included in planning next steps, with the person’s consent. Regular communication and follow-up reduce the likelihood of future crises, promote early intervention, and empower individuals to actively shape their personal recovery plan.
FAQ
- What is a CATT or CAT team and how do they differ from regular mental health services?
- A CATT (Crisis Assessment and Treatment Team) provides immediate, mobile, multidisciplinary support for severe mental health crises, usually outside hospital settings. They complement, but are distinct from, ongoing community mental health teams by focusing on short-term, urgent intervention and risk management.
- How do I contact a crisis assessment team in Melbourne or my state?
- Contact options vary by state or region, but most areas have a dedicated mental health triage or crisis hotline available 24/7. You can find up-to-date numbers via your local health department website or Healthdirect’s mental health service directory.
- What should I do if someone refuses to see the CAT team during a crisis?
- If you are worried about someone’s immediate safety, always seek advice from medical professionals or emergency services. CAT teams are trained to handle reluctant or distressed individuals, prioritising the person’s safety and wellbeing with respect and minimal coercion.
- Can I refer myself or a family member to the CATT?
- Yes. In most Australian states and territories, self-referral is possible and encouraged if you recognise warning signs of mental health crisis in yourself or someone close to you.
- Are CAT team services free or covered by Medicare in Australia?
- CATT services provided through public hospitals or health networks are generally free for Australian residents and covered as part of the public healthcare system.