SWSPHN works in partnership with South Western Sydney Local Health District (SWSLHD) and the broader community to plan and coordinate mental health and suicide prevention services across the region.
A key part of this work is the South Western Sydney Regional Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan which sets the strategic direction for improving mental health outcomes and reducing risk of suicide across the region.
The plan brings together primary care, hospital services, community organisations and people with lived experience to identify shared priorities and guide collaborative action. Its aim is to ensure people in South Western Sydney can access the right support, at the right time, in the right place.
Building on the previous regional plan
The previous South Western Sydney Regional Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan (2020 to 2025) represented a five-year commitment between SWSPHN and SWSLHD to improve how mental health and suicide prevention services work together across the region.
The plan was developed through extensive consultation with the community and health sector. More than 200 people contributed across nine co-design workshops, including:
- people with lived experience of mental health conditions
- families, carers and kin
- GPs and clinicians
- mental health workers
- community and support organisations
Consultation feedback highlighted how the mental health service system could be difficult to navigate and stronger leadership and integration across services were needed.
In response, the plan focused on several key priorities:
- improving accessibility, timeliness and affordability of care
- strengthening integration between primary care, hospitals and community services
- supporting family-inclusive practice
- reducing stigma and discrimination
- embedding lived experience in planning and decision-making
Over its five years, the plan supported stronger collaboration between primary and hospital services, expanded family-inclusive approaches to care, and increased the role of lived experience in shaping mental health planning across the region.
Planning for the next five years
The South Western Sydney Regional Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan to 2030 has been developed through a collaborative partnership between SWSPHN and SWSLHD.
Guided by a dedicated Steering Committee, the plan draws on insights from service providers, consumers and the broader community. Consultation brought together people with lived experience, carers, community members, healthcare providers and sector leaders, alongside insights from other regional planning activities.
Structured engagement — including workshops, forums, focus groups and interviews — ensured lived experience remained central to shaping priorities and actions.
Key findings highlighted the need to:
- strengthen prevention, education, mental health literacy and stigma reduction
- improve service coordination, integration and referral pathways
- ensure strong governance, sustainable funding and clear accountability
- leverage technology and innovation to enhance service delivery
- support workforce capability and engagement, including primary care
This collaborative approach has shaped a shared set of priorities to guide mental health and suicide prevention across South Western Sydney over the next five years, with SWSPHN and SWSLHD working together to deliver more coordinated, person-centred care.
Final reports and resources
You can learn more about the work undertaken through the previous Regional Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan in the following reports:
