A free mental health program for older Australians across South Western Sydney can now be accessed by people who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The program “Continuing to be Me at home” (C2bMe@Home) has been developed to help older Australians who have struggled with mental wellbeing and isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and extended lockdowns. The program is delivered to people who need it from the comfort of their own home either face to face or via telehealth.
The Federal Government has provided funding and support this initiative and make mental health services more accessible for older Australians across South-West with the help of Primary Health Network.
South Western Sydney PHN has worked closely with primary care services, hospitals, the NSW Mental Health Pandemic Response Taskforce and the State and Federal Governments in identifying Uniting Recovery as a partner in establishing mental health services for seniors in this region.
SWSPHN Chief Executive Officer, Dr Keith McDonald PhD, said “Mental health doesn’t discriminate. Many people in our region may have never experienced mental ill-health before and are facing new challenges due to COVID-19 so it has never been more important to ensure our community can access critical support and mental health services during these challenging times. The service opened in South Western Sydney in October 2021 and is available for anyone over 65 that needs mental health support. The service is available to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders aged over 50 years.”
The C2bMe@Home service is a new addition to Uniting Recovery’s mental health services which already includes Youth Enhanced Support Service (YESS), C2bMe and NDIS Mental Health Services in South Western Sydney.
Uniting Recovery is excited to be running the C2bMe@Home program and welcomes the funding to support the emotional and mental wellbeing of older Australians. It has become particularly important as many have been impactd by extended lockdowns is South Western Sydney.
The program is currently seeking out allied health professionals and GP to help them identify older persons who may need assistance in the community. The focus of the program is to increase connectedness, develop hope, reinforce identity and purpose, reduce symptomatology, and increase the functioning of participants.
Mental health has become an increasingly important health issue across Australia caused by extended lockdowns and as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has taken a huge toll on the wellbeing of Australians who have been affected through loss of employment, housing, relationship breakdowns and increased financial burden. And hence one of the aims of program is to provide targeted support for seniors, based on their specific needs.
The free C2bMe@Home program aims to make a real difference for the seniors that have been impacted by the pandemic.
To find out more about the C2bMe@Home SWS program and to make a referral please contact 1800 422 263 or email.
Website: Read more about c2bMe