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?
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 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.
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.
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.
