We’re putting the spotlight on mental health in this monthly feature. Learn more about SWSPHN commissioned services, projects and events, and find guidance on navigating the mental health system.
This month we’re highlighting You in Mind (moderate and high intensity supports) delivered by One Door Mental Health.
What services and supports does your service provide?
One Door Mental Health offers a stepped-care model of psychological therapy services, designed to meet the needs of the individual. Our programs are funded by SWSPHN.
You in Mind is a ‘no-cost’ psychological therapy service for eligible people experiencing mild to severe mental illness. We have a team of almost 100 registered providers across the SWSPHN footprint, with a variety of specialties, services, and cultural backgrounds.
You in Mind also offers a non-clinical Peer Support Program available to participants, which can include soft-entry into clinical services, psychoeducation, advocacy and links to psychosocial supports. A You in Mind clinician can link any participant to this program when needed.
The You in Mind program is designed as an accessible and equitable service for people who are at risk of developing, or have a diagnosed mental illness. Participants can access the first three hours of therapy before needing to provide a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan. As soon as this document is provided, clients may access up to 12 hours for moderate care and up to 20 hours for high intensity services.
What are your service location/s and service hours?
The You in Mind service is available across the South Western Sydney region including Bankstown, Fairfield, Liverpool, Campbelltown and Camden. The service hours are mainly 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, however some of our team members do offer after-hours appointments.
What is the eligibility criteria to access your service and are there any targeted supports to specific population groups?
The You in Mind service is available to residents of South Western Sydney with mild to moderate mental health issues and identify as being from one of the following populations groups:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
- Culturally and Linguistically Diverse groups
- Residents of Claymore, Airds and the 2168 postcode
- LGBTIQA+
- Older people
- Financial disadvantaged
- Perinatal depression
For high intensity referrals, the participant must live or work within the region and be diagnosed with a severe and persistent mental illness, and requiring high/frequent levels of ongoing support.
Does your service provide support to people who don’t speak English as a first language? If so, what supports are available?
Yes. One Door has a large workforce of bi-lingual clinicians and also utilises interpreting services where required.
How can people be referred?
People can access the service via a referral from their GP. Alternatively, a provisional referral can be made by suitable community organisations via the central intake online referral form. An eligible person can refer themselves to You in Mind, by calling our administration team on 9199 6143.
Local case study/example of a client journey when accessing your services, including:
Sophie is a 54-year-old female living alone. She was referred to the You in Mind service to better manage difficulties in regulating her emotions, low mood and process the complex trauma she experienced. Sophie also presented with ongoing physical health issues which made it more challenging for Sophie to do things around the home.
Through the program, Sophie was supported by the clinician to understand the impact of childhood adversity and adult trauma on how she currently deals with difficult emotions, as well as how it influences the way she interacts with the people around her. She worked with the clinician to build her emotion regulation skills, such as things she could do to self-soothe when her emotions became very intense; as well as engaging in activities of self-care such as maintaining her personal hygiene and having regular meals.
Sophie was also referred to the Peer Support Program as part of the You in Mind service, and she worked collaboratively with the clinician and a peer worker to strengthen her regulation skills; set and maintain boundaries with others; as well as being supported by the peer worker to access food assistance and relief. The clinician was also in contact with Sophie’s current GP to request a review of Sophie’s psychiatric medications as she expressed the medications no longer seemed to be helping manage her low mood and anxiety.
Having lived a long time in social isolation, Sophie expressed appreciation for the space to be heard and validated, while at the same time be encouraged by her supporters to challenge her patterns of avoidance. Sophie has demonstrated increased engagement in activities to improve her sense of wellbeing, including going out to get her groceries, scheduling and attending medical appointments to address her health issues, as well as being transparent with her supporters when she has setbacks in her mental health recovery journey.
Sophie continues to see the You in Mind clinician and peer worker.
A day in the life of Clinical Psychology Registrar, Lillian Le
My name is Lillian and I am a Clinical Psychology Registrar with a combined Clinical Masters/PhD from the University of NSW. In my role as a You in Mind clinician at One Door Mental Health, I support individuals in their journey recovering from mental health difficulties. I tailor treatment to the individual’s needs and goals, using a combination of evidence-based interventions.
Whether working from our offices in Campbelltown and Bankstown, I always start my day with a coffee! Humour aside, my day-to-day role involves working with clients to build adaptive skills to better manage their difficulties. I appreciate a multidisciplinary approach towards client care, so in addition to working with clients, I regularly collaborate with other professionals/services including GPs, case workers and peer workers.
The most challenging aspect of my role is sitting alongside clients as they face many stressors outside of their physical control. Working in this field, it can be easy for clinicians to become an emotional sponge and empathise with clients’ feelings of helplessness. It is important for clinicians to promote self-care and seek regular peer supervision.
The most rewarding aspect of my role is the opportunity to provide a safe space for individuals to be heard and validated. I am passionate about helping others to work towards a life worth living, and I take inspiration from the resilience and hard work my clients have demonstrated to overcome adversity.
In my spare time, I love to bake (especially choux puffs), have movie nights with my family and listen to fantasy audiobooks.