Mental health Archives | Page 13 of 22 | South Western Sydney PHN

15 November 2022

One of SWSPHN’s core functions is to work with community, service providers and others to design and commission a range of mental health and Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) services tailored to the unique needs of the South Western Sydney community.

SWSPHN’s Mental Health Central Intake Line exists to ensure that when GPs and other healthcare providers refer patients to these commissioned services, there is a standardised initial assessment which supports the treatment choices for that patient.

We take a closer look at the Central Intake Line – 1300 797 746 – in this month’s Under the Microscope.

Stepped care approach to providing mental healthcare

Stepped care is a model of evidence-based mental healthcare delivery where the service intensity is matched to individual need/severity of the mental illness, ensuring the right service is delivered at the right place, at the right time.

The ideal intervention is the least intensive and least intrusive.

Importantly, the decision is driven by a person-centred, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. Patient outcomes are monitored so that patients can step-up or step-down between services as appropriate. Learn more about the mental health services we commission

The stepped care approach is underpinned by 10 comprehensive key principles for effective and inclusive service provision. Learn more about the 10 principles

The Initial Assessment and Referral Decision Support Tool (IAR-DST) has been developed to support a stepped care model in primary care. It is a useful tool to support GPs and other clinicians in recommending the most appropriate level of care for a person seeking mental health assistance.

Learn more about the IAR-DST and view available IAR workshops

What does our Central Intake team do?

SWSPHN’s Mental Health Intake Officers are available to liaise with GPs and other health professionals to discuss and review SWSPHN mental health and AOD referrals. This includes providing information on the different services available and eligibility requirements, who can refer and how they refer. The Intake Officers provide support over the phone and answer queries via email if appropriate.

Once a referral has been received, the Intake Officers ensure all the information needed is provided, before processing and allocating the referral.

Referrals are processed within three business days and allocated to the appropriate mental health service providers. The service providers then contact the patient within five business days of notification and an appointment is scheduled within one month. This timeframe can vary depending on the volume of referrals and service capacity.

How do you refer your patients to our commissioned services?

There are two ways GPs can refer their patient to a SWSPHN-funded mental health service.

Use the Mental Health Central Intake template within your practice software. The Central Intake team will forward the referral to the appropriate service or service selected by the GP.
Complete the online Mental Health Smart Referral Form (please note, this form is not compatible with GP software). Appropriate documentation must be attached to both faxed referrals and online referrals made through the smart form.

Where possible, GPs are asked to send a copy of the Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) for their patient with the referral. This will enable the patient access to the full number of sessions corresponding to the service.

Access the Adult Mental Health Treatment Plan
Access the Child Mental Health Treatment Plan

Clinical Suicide Prevention Service referrals

GPs can refer to the Clinical Suicide Prevention Service by completing the SWSPHN Clinical Suicide Prevention Referral Form. Referrals to the service are treated with priority and processed within 24 (business) hours of receipt, with the patient receiving a call from a clinician within this time frame.

Submit these forms to HealthLink: swsphnmh; fax: 02 4623 1796.

For support making a referral, phone SWSPHN’s Mental Health Central Intake on: 1300 797 746.
It is important to note, this is not a crisis service. In an emergency, please call 000 (Triple 0).

15 November 2022

The National Suicide Prevention Office has launched public consultation on a scoping paper for the National Suicide Prevention Strategy.

The National Suicide Prevention Office (NSPO) was created in early 2022 with the responsibility for working across governments, portfolios, and sectors to drive the development of a nationally consistent and integrated approach to suicide prevention. 

The development of a National Strategy is an immediate priority for the National Suicide Prevention Office. The strategy will form the basis for the coordinated action which is required across all governments, portfolios and communities to create an Australia where no person feels driven to suicide.

The NSPO has committed to ensuring the voice of lived experience of suicide is central to the development of the National Suicide Prevention Strategy.

To have your say on the scope for the development of the National Suicide Prevention Strategy, click here.

Expressions of Interest now open for National Suicide Prevention Strategy Working Groups

The NSPO is also seeking expressions of interest from individuals to join the working groups that will inform the development of the Strategy in greater detail. Please review the Terms of Reference and complete the EOI nomination form click here.

10 November 2022

SWSPHN has developed a service directory for carers of people who are living with mental health issues. The directory lists all current federal, state, and local non-profit support services for carers, with a focus on NDIS access and planning.

Go to directory

This article appeared in Practice Pulse on Wednesday, 9 November 2022. If you are a GP, practice nurse or practice manager in South Western Sydney and do not get the weekly Practice Pulse email, speak to your Practice Support Officer.

02 November 2022

SWSPHN’s Mental Health and Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) team facilitated the 6th annual Mental Health and Alcohol and Other Drugs Roundtable event at Rydges Campbelltown on Tuesday, 1 November.

Each year, the roundtable brings together key stakeholders who support people experiencing mental health and/or alcohol and other drug issues in our region with the aim of fostering collaboration between service providers and strategising the integration of multidisciplinary care for people experiencing co-morbidity issues.

This year, we welcomed Dr Elizabeth Conroy from Western Sydney University to speak on insights from a research perspective of mental health and AOD co-morbidity. Russell Bickford from Odyssey House NSW and Benjamin Ong from Head to Health also inspired participants with organisational experience with integration.

Other guest speakers included community members with living experience and Rush Electra from the South Western Sydney Local Health District Drug Health team discussing the role of the Drug Health Consumer Engagement Manager and service integration.

The event concluded with a brainstorming session about the Organisations’ Action Plan (OAP), where participants talked about how organisations can improve coordination and integration of Mental Health and AOD support for consumers residing in South Western Sydney.

28 October 2022

Work, health and safety awareness was the main course at SWSPHN’s SafeTea morning tea on Wednesday (26 October), where almost 40 staff came together to have a conversation about workplace safety.

We hosted the morning tea for National Safe Work Month which highlights the message: being healthy and safe means being free from physical and psychological harm.

Data from Safe Work Australia, which drives the campaign, shows more than 120,000 workers are compensated for a serious work-related injury or illness in Australia each year and just under 200 are fatally injured at work.

However, injury in the workplace is not only physical. The campaign also focuses on how managing risks to mental health– or psychosocial hazards – at work is just as important as managing risks to physical safety.

Our Quality and People Coordinator told the gathering we are “lucky to have an organisation genuinely committed to a mentally safe workplace”.

“Today is a good opportunity to make the connection between physical safety in the workplace and mental health safety and to find out about resources which can help,” she said.

21 October 2022

After years of screaming from the rooftops, “if you’re in crisis call Lifeline, if you’ve got a problem, please put your hand up and ask for help” we are now seeing people reach out in numbers we’ve never seen before.

Lifeline International President and keynote speaker, John Brogden AM had this positive message for attendees at SWSPHN’s Mental Health Symposium 2022 at Rydges, Campbelltown on Wednesday, 19 October.

The symposium aimed to highlight a range of innovative local programs, initiatives and supports to address the needs of South Western Sydney, and work towards improved mental health outcomes.

It was facilitated by Adam Holstein who has been working in the community services sector for more than 20 years in the areas of youth work, disability services, training and mental health.

Mr Brogden joined Anthea Raven, from the Mental Health Access Branch of the Department of Health and Aged Care, as the two keynote speakers for the event.

The former NSW Opposition Leader shared his personal experiences “living” with mental illness and suicidal ideation with an audience of almost 200 attendees via Zoom from Ghana, West Africa where he is supporting the establishment of a Lifeline-style helpline.

“Early in my time at Lifeline, when our call numbers used to go up, I used to think there was something wrong – there’s a problem in Australia,” he told the audience. “But now I think the more calls we get, the better the situation is.

“After years and years of telling people to reach out, we are now seeing them reach out. We are now seeing them in numbers we’ve never seen before.

“Lifeline is an anonymous service. What people can’t tell mum, dad, boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife, best friend, boss, whoever it might be, they can ring a complete stranger. We practice nonjudgmental listening – that’s an important element of what we do.”

The symposium was held face-to-face for the first time since 2019, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Opening the event, SWSPHN Director of Planning and Performance, Amy Prince, said she was struck by how much the landscape had changed in the face of pandemic since our last symposium.

“Service providers have adapted and changed their service models to address the increasing needs of consumers,” she said.

“The community in South Western Sydney has experienced fires, floods, tragic accidents and some of the harshest lockdown restrictions in the state.

“Over the past few years our communities have lived through what is hopefully the most challenging social and political environment they will face in their lifetime.

“And our frontline mental health service providers have been right alongside them. I want to say a heartfelt thank you to each of you.”

The symposium’s morning session included presentations from commissioned service providers including One Door Mental Health (Connector Hub), Odyssey House NSW (services available for Alcohol and Other Drugs and mental health comorbidity) and headspace Bankstown (Flourish Australia).

SWSPHN Mental Health and AOD Manager, Jade Weidner, gave an implementation overview of the South Western Sydney Regional Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan before attendees broke into groups for workshops.

The afternoon session included presentations on the You in Mind Peer Support Program, supports for bushfire affected communities, Changing Life Keep Your Balance Bilingual Community Education Program and the Workforce Capacity Building Project at Gandangara Local Aboriginal Land Council.

The event concluded with a panel discussion with experts on suicide prevention and aftercare, a self-care session presented by South Western Sydney Recovery College and a raffle draw.

After the symposium, Ms Weidner thanked all those who contributed to making the event such a success, including the keynote speakers, the wonderful Welcome to Country by the Koomurri Dance Group, presenters and workshop facilitators.

“It was fantastic to be back in the room with so many people committed to improving mental health outcomes in our region, to share experiences and knowledge,” she said.

“Feedback on the day has been positive with attendees describing the symposium as informative, educational, fun and inspiring.”

The symposium attracted participation from across the South Western Sydney community, SWSPHN commissioned service providers and government and non-government mental health-related organisations.

17 October 2022

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 Lifeline Macarthur and Western Sydney.

What services and supports does your service provide?

Lifeline coordinates and offers a range of suicide prevention and aftercare services including crisis support (13 11 14), support groups, and suicide prevention training. This includes:

Lifeline Crisis Support Suicide Aftercare Program provides telephone-based support to those experiencing suicidal distress and/or have attempted suicide.
Gatekeeper Training providing the necessary skills to assist the community to be resilient.
ECLIPSE Support group, an eight-week program for those who have attempted suicide.
Suicide Bereavement Support, a four-week closed or monthly open group program for those who have lost someone to suicide and would like a safe place to share their thoughts and feelings.
Suicide Prevention Regional Hub providing a directory of local community services that can be accessed online.
Lifeline Mobile Café providing mobile outreach crisis support to those who may not necessarily access traditional methods of support.
Lifeline financial counselling for those who may need assistance with financial concerns.

What are your service location/s and service hours?

13 McPherson Road, Smeaton Grange
13 11 14 – phone, text and online messaging 24/7
Suicide prevention and financial counselling – 8.30am to 4.30pm
Gatekeeper training is delivered throughout South Western Sydney and is advertised on Eventbrite for all locations and hours

What is the eligibility criteria to access your service and are there any targeted supports to specific population groups?

Lifeline Macarthur and Western Sydney’s Crisis Support Suicide Aftercare Program and ECLIPSE Support group are available to people over the age of 18 residing within South Western Sydney who have recently been discharged from hospital following a suicide attempt, or who are experiencing a suicidal crisis. The Suicide Bereavement Support Group is available to anyone over the age of 18 who has lost a loved one to suicide.

Gatekeeper training is available to anyone aged 18 and over residing/studying/working within South Western Sydney and interested in increasing their knowledge and skills with suicide awareness and mental health training. Tailored workshops have been arranged for senior high school students and specific cultural groups.

Does your service provide support to people who don’t speak English as a first language? If so, what supports are available?

We provide support to all people who are eligible for our programs, including people who don’t speak English as their first language. In such instances we will work with a free interpreting service and in collaboration with other stakeholders.

Our workshops can be tailored via an interpreter, when necessary. A workshop was recently delivered at the Fairfield Women’s Health Service for women from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse refugee backgrounds, and an interpreter was collaboratively engaging with participants during the workshop.

Support can be provided through the Translating and Interpreting Service and in collaboration with other services.

How can people be referred?

People can be referred into the Lifeline Aftercare program through the Lifeline Macarthur and Western Sydney website or referral form. ECLIPSE and Suicide Bereavement Support groups are self-referrals by contacting Lifeline Macarthur and Western Sydney. Accessing Gatekeeper training can be found through Lifeline Macarthur Eventbrite.

17 October 2022

A guide to the causes and impacts of psychosocial ill health and the services South Western Sydney PHN fund to support our community. This article will help you choose which service is best for you and how to access them.

What is psychosocial health?

Psychosocial health refers to the physical, mental and social wellbeing of a person. Stress from these three areas can interact to cause mental ill health and can impact on a person’s ability to function day-to-day.

What are common causes of stress?

What is stressful for one person may not be for another. However, there are some events and environments which typically cause stress:

Changes to family: marriage, pregnancy, death, divorce, a new child
Work environment: job change, job loss, promotion, work overload, conflict at work, business failure, employee strike
Living environment: new house, relocation to a new community, loss of a home, neighbourhood crime
Physical environment or conditions: noise, pollution, traffic, violence, illness, disability, injury, pain, cold, heat, lack of sleep, hunger, malnutrition, natural disaster, unsafe surroundings, physical abuse or neglect
Economic environment: poverty, escalating bills, unanticipated expenses, theft
Social environment: isolation, family or peer demands, forced separation (such as from military service, prison, abandonment or conflict), grief, emotional abuse or neglect, legal entanglements, bullying, difficult roommates or neighbours
Lack of control or the inability to predict situations can add to the stress

How can mental health impact on a person’s life?

Mental ill health may restrict a person’s ability to:

be in certain types of environments
concentrate
have enough stamina to complete tasks
cope with time pressures and multiple tasks
interact with others
understand constructive feedback
manage stress

What is the role of South Western Sydney PHN?

The Federal Government funds South Western Sydney PHN (SWSPHN) to commission community-based organisations to deliver services which provide psychosocial support.

This support helps:

connect people with the clinical care and other services they may need
build their capacity in managing day-to-day activities
strengthen their social skills, friendships and relationships with family
increase their educational, vocational and training skills

Psychosocial services commissioned by SWSPHN

Our psychosocial support services are tailored to meet the needs of the South Western Sydney Community. Some of the services we fund include:

Mental Health Service Navigator

The Mental Health Service Navigator is a free initiative for community members to simplify the process of linking people living with complex or persistent mental illness with local services.

The Mental Health Service Navigator works with individuals (and healthcare providers) to find the best services and supports to help improve their wellbeing by:

Determining what local clinical, psychosocial, and primary care support and services may be available to help. This could include social groups, psychological therapy, mental health professionals, housing support, financial counselling, carer supports, or physical health needs.
Providing information, advice and referrals for other health professionals, the NDIS, or other state funded services.

Connector Hub

Connector Hub supports people living with severe mental illness to achieve their goals and improve wellbeing.

The client works with a recovery support worker and peer worker to develop goals and participate in a range of activities such as:

Social activities, outings and connecting people in your community
Groups focusing on understanding mental illness, improving physical health, and living the life you want
Individual support and assistance
Links to services, supports and health professionals which can help
Support to reach education, employment end financial goals

People can contact the service directly or be referred by friends, family or healthcare providers.

The Way Back Support Program

The Way Back Support Service provides non-clinical care and practical support to people after a suicide attempt or suicidal crisis.

A support coordinator or peer support worker guides the client through safety planning and a personalised aftercare program for up to three months. This includes connecting them with services to address the issues leading to their distress. This can mean anything from financial advice, to connecting them with community groups or helping them attend healthcare appointments.

Referrals to this service come through the Liverpool and Campbelltown hospital emergency departments.

You in Mind

You in Mind provides up to 12 hours of free support from a mental health professional such as a psychologist or mental health accredited social worker at a time which suits the client.

It is for people with mild to moderate mental health problems/illness and from one of these eligible population groups:

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Culturally and Linguistically Diverse groups
Residents of Claymore, Airds and the 2168 postcode
People living in Wollondilly and Wingecarribee with barriers to using Better Access (Medicare) services
LGBTIQA+
Older People
Financial Disadvantaged
Perinatal Depression
OR Diagnosed with a severe and persistent mental illness

People can be referred by their GP.

Alcohol and Other Drug services

SWSPHN funds a number of Alcohol and Other Drug services which work with clients, their families and with GPs to provide withdrawal management, rehabilitation, aftercare and psychosocial counselling for those in need.

These services are delivered by The Salvation Army, St Vincent de Paul Society, Odyssey House, Tharawal Aboriginal Corporation and the Drug and Alcohol Multicultural Education Centre.

11 October 2022

SWSPHN commissions community-based organisations to deliver services which provide psychosocial support to our community.

This month’s Under the Microscope looks at the causes and impacts of psychosocial ill health, the local services we fund, and how we help primary carers identify when and what support a patient might need.

What is psychosocial health?

What are common causes of stress?

What is stressful for one person may not be for another. However, there are some events and environments which typically cause stress:

Changes to family: marriage, pregnancy, death, divorce, a new child
Work environment: job change, job loss, promotion, work overload, conflict at work, business failure, employee strike
Living environment: new house, relocation to a new community, loss of a home, neighbourhood crime
Physical environment or conditions: noise, pollution, traffic, violence, illness, disability, injury, pain, cold, heat, lack of sleep, hunger, malnutrition, natural disaster, unsafe surroundings, physical abuse or neglect
Economic environment: poverty, escalating bills, unanticipated expenses, theft
Social environment: isolation, family or peer demands, forced separation (such as from military service, prison, abandonment or conflict), grief, emotional abuse or neglect, legal entanglements, bullying, difficult roommates or neighbours
Lack of control or the inability to predict situations can add to the stress

How can mental health impact on a person’s life?

Mental ill heaIth may restrict a person’s ability to:

be in certain types of environments
concentrate
have enough stamina to complete tasks
cope with time pressures and multiple tasks
interact with others
understand constructive feedback
manage stress

What is the role of SWSPHN?

The Federal Government funds SWSPHN to commission community-based organisations to deliver services which provide psychosocial support.

This support helps:

connect people with the clinical care and other services they may need
build their capacity in managing day-to-day activities
strengthen their social skills, friendships and relationships with family
increase their educational, vocational and training skills

What psychosocial services does SWSPHN commission?

Our psychosocial support services are tailored to meet the needs of the South Western Sydney community. Some of the services we fund include:

Connector Hub

Connector Hub supports people living with severe mental illness to achieve their goals and improve wellbeing.

The client works with a recovery support worker and peer worker to develop goals and participate in a range of activities such as:

Social activities, outings and connecting people in your community
Groups focusing on understanding mental illness, improving physical health, and living the life you want
Individual support and assistance
Links to services, supports and health professionals which can help
Support to reach education, employment end financial goals

People can contact the service directly or be referred by friends, family or healthcare providers.

The Way Back Support Program

The Way Back Support Service provides non-clinical care and practical support to people after a suicide attempt or suicidal crisis.

Referrals to this service come through the Liverpool and Campbelltown hospital emergency departments.

You in Mind

You in Mind provides up to 12 hours of free support from a mental health professional such as a psychologist or mental health accredited social worker at a time which suits the client.

It is for people with mild to moderate mental health problems/illness and from one of these eligible population groups:

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Culturally and Linguistically Diverse groups
Residents of Claymore, Airds and the 2168 postcode
People living in Wollondilly and Wingecarribee with barriers to using Better Access (Medicare) services
LGBTIQA+
Older People
Financial Disadvantaged
Perinatal Depression

Diagnosed with a severe and persistent mental illness

People can be referred by their GP.

Alcohol and Other Drug services

These services are delivered by The Salvation Army, St Vincent de Paul Society, Odyssey House, Tharawal Aboriginal Corporation and the Drug and Alcohol Multicultural Education Centre.

If you have questions about the services we commission, or need advice or information about psychosocial health, please contact Mental Health Intake on 1300 797 746.

04 October 2022

The Youth Enhanced Support Service South Western Sydney (YESS SWS), currently being delivered by Uniting, is winding up with youth mental health supports transitioning to a new service in 2023.

Uniting will cease providing the service from February next year and is no longer taking new referrals. The team at Uniting is supporting current clients to move into new care arrangements to ensure minimal disruption to care.

In the meantime South Western Sydney PHN is commissioning new youth services to commence mid-2023. Details on the new service and tender opportunities will be announced in October.

Young people needing mental health support should see their GP and can ask about referrals to any of the programs below.

Headstart, South Western Sydney PHN’s online mental health navigation tool also provides links and details to quality local services.

Headstart can be accessed here: headstart.org.au

You can also contact South Western Sydney Local Health District’s Infant, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services by visiting their website for your local service.

In an emergency call 000 (Triple 0)