Mental health Archives | Page 14 of 22 | South Western Sydney PHN

17 August 2022

On R U OK? Day, Thursday, 8 September, Australians are reminded every day is the day to ask, ‘are you OK?’ and start a conversation whenever they spot the signs someone they care about might be struggling with life.

R U OK? contributes to suicide prevention efforts by encouraging people to invest more time in their personal relationships and building the capacity of informal support networks – friends, family and colleagues – to be alert to those around them, have a conversation if they identify signs of distress or difficulty and connect someone to appropriate support, long before they’re in crisis.

The R U OK? website has a range of useful resources and tips for how to ask ‘R U OK?’.

Find out more

R U OK? has translated a number of key resources you can use, if you or someone you know would prefer to get information in a language other than English.

Access the resources

Visit swsphn.com.au to find out about the mental health services we fund
Visit Health Resource Directory to find out about specific mental health conditions

17 August 2022

The Mental Health Symposium 2022 will highlight a range of innovative local programs, initiatives and supports to address the needs faced within South Western Sydney and work towards improved mental health outcomes.

Hear about exciting approaches in the areas of:

Mental health and comorbidities
Psychosocial support
Regional planning
Peer support
Engaging with multicultural communities
Suicide prevention
Disaster recovery
Eating disorders
Social and emotional wellbeing

Keynote speakers

John Brogden AM is the President of LifeLine International and Patron of Lifeline Australia, having served as its Chairman from 2012 to 2021. Lifeline is the Australian equivalent of The Samaritans. He is a leading Australian and international advocate for suicide prevention.

From 1996 to 2005, John was the Member for Pittwater in the New South Wales Parliament. In 2002, he was elected Leader of the Opposition – the youngest person ever to lead a major political party in Australia.

He lives with depression and suicidal ideation and openly shares his story of success, failure and redemption.

Since leaving politics John has moved into financial services and property. He has recently moved from a full-time executive career to join Boards as a Chair and Director, and devote more time to Lifeline and suicide prevention.

In January 2014, John was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to the community. He holds a Masters of Public Affairs from the University of Sydney and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He is married to Lucy Brogden AM and they have three beautiful children.

Anthea Raven is the Assistant Secretary of the Mental Health Access Branch within the Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Division, Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. The branch delivers a range of policies and programs to improve the lives of people with mental illness. This includes policies and programs to improve access to Medicare subsidised mental health services, deliver targeted mental health services for older Australians, provide psychosocial support to people with complex mental health care needs, and to grow and support the mental health workforce.

Anthea has more than 18 years’ experience in key health and social policy areas of the Australian Public Service including population health, First Nations health, aged care reform and family and children’s services.

Master of Ceremonies – Adam Holstein

Adam Holstein has been working in the community services sector for over 20 years in the areas of Youth Work, Disability Services, Training and Mental Health. He is passionate about mental health issues and actively spreads the word about mental health and suicide awareness at every opportunity he gets via his social media pages and podcast called ‘How You Going Mate?’.

9am to 4pm, Wednesday, 19 Oct 2022
Registrations start from 8:30am

Rydges Campbelltown
15 Old Menangle Rd, Campbelltown

Lunch and light snacks included.

TICKETS SOLD OUT

Plan your trip

Public transport

Ryges Campbelltown is about a 20-minutes walk from Campbelltown Train Station. You can catch a bus from the station to Koshigaya Park, Hurley Street where it will take approximately 7-minutes to walk to Rydges.

Visit transportnsw.info to plan your trip, or download a Transport NSW travel app.

Driving

Free parking is available onsite and near the venue.

Download the event program

Need to contact us?

Jaquie Hiku, Mental Health Intake Officer
Email: jaquie.hiku@swsphn.com.au
Ph: 4632 3011

Kate Johnson, Mental Health Program Advisor
Email: kate.johnson@swsphn.com.au
Ph: 4632 3073

Sophie Mara, Mental Health Intake Officer
Email: sophie.mara@swsphn.com.au
Ph: 4632 3077

Devendra Sapkota, Mental Health Service Navigator
Email: devendra.sapkota@swsphn.com.au
Ph: 4632 3024

17 August 2022

Connector Hub is a free, flexible psychosocial peer support service which offers programs and group-based activities to about 350 people living in South Western Sydney who face severe mental health challenges.

What support does Connector Hub provide?

Connector Hub is free and provides support tailored to the specific needs of the person seeking support.

A recovery support worker and access worker (someone with lived experience of mental health challenges and recovery) work with participants to help them achieve their goals, manage daily tasks, get involved in activities and make connections.

Participants may receive support with finding work, connecting with their community or accessing other health professionals.

The program offers:

Community activities – social activities, outings and connecting community members
Group support – focusing on understanding the person’s mental illness, improving their physical health and living the life they want
Linking – with services, supports and health professionals who can help
Reaching goals – support to reach the person’s education, employment and financial goals

How has Connector Hub changed?

Connector Hub underwent some changes last year, including:

A minimum of 30 per cent of participants will be given the opportunity to apply for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) improving their quality of life and access to valuable services
Consumers are now limited to 12 months’ access to Connector Hub services
The service’s capacity has increased to 700 participants across the region

Where is Connector Hub provided?

Connector Hub can be accessed anywhere across our region, and Stride (Fairfield) has now joined One Door Mental Health (Campbelltown, Camden, Wollondilly and Wingecarribee) and Flourish (Bankstown and Liverpool) to deliver the services.

Who can access Connector Hub?

People can access the service if they:

Live with severe mental illness which cause some difficulties in their everyday life
Are aged 18 and over
Live in South Western Sydney
Are not receiving funding under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)

How can someone access Connector Hub?

Anyone can refer an eligible person to the program (with their permission) including:

Self-referral
Carers, family or friends
Health professionals

Refer online and find out more at www.connectorhub.org.au or call 1800 518 216.

22 July 2022

Free Supporting Individuals after Disaster training is available to general practice staff in South Western Sydney. The 90-minute, self-paced online training will provide participants with information about key aspects of Trauma-informed Care including:

understanding the impacts of trauma
simple strategies to teach trauma-impacted people to
help them deal with their distress.
how to safely talk about and manage trauma
disclosure

Additional optional modules include:

Trauma-informed self-care strategies
PTSD treatment recommendations

Download this flyer to learn more

20 July 2022

South Western Sydney PHN invites submissions for procurement of a Health Adult Mental Health Centre in Liverpool.

Background

Pop Up Service (in response to COVID-19)

Currently SWSPHN funds two Head to Health Pop Up Hubs which commenced operation on 6 September 2021 as part of the state-wide establishment of the Head to Health Pop up Service in response to COVID-19. These Pop-Up Hubs are located in Bankstown and Liverpool and are funded to December 2022.

A state-wide telephone Initial Assessment and Referral (IAR) service was also established and began operating on 6 September 2021. As at 1 July 2022, this service is available nationally by calling 1800 595 212.

www.headtohealth.gov.au/popup

Head to Health Centre and Satellite Network, and Telephone IAR Service

Through the 2021-22 Federal Budget, the Australian Government invested $487.2 million to stablish the Head to Health centre and satellite network of community-based adult mental health services which are delivered by multidisciplinary teams who will provide holistic, collaborative care. This includes funding for eight new Head to Health centres, 24 satellites embedded into existing primary care settings and ongoing funding for the initial eight sites announced as part of the 2019-20 Budget. The announcement also included funding for the central intake and assessment phone service which promotes consistent triage and enables warm transfer and referral to the most appropriate services, including Head to Health centres and satellites.

Procurement overview

The model of service will seek to address key gaps in the system by:

Providing a highly visible and accessible entry point to services for people experiencing psychological distress, where all feel safe and welcomed.
Offering assessment to match people to the services they need.
Providing on the spot support, care and advice without needing referral, prior appointments or out of pocket cost. Every interaction should be with the intention of therapeutic benefit.
Offering an episode of care model based on short to medium term multidisciplinary collaborative care, aimed at improving psychological wellbeing for people with moderate to high levels of mental health need, whose needs are not being met through other services.

Service Model for Head to Health Adult Mental Health Centres and Satellite Services – June 2021

Head to Health Adult Mental Health Centres | Head to Health

Request for Proposal release

Indicative timeline

Tender open: Monday, 25 July 2022
Information session: Monday, 1 August 2022
Tender closure: Monday, 29 August, 5pm
Evaluation: September 2022
Recommendation to SWSPHN Board: Late October 2022
Contract negotiation: November 2022
Contract commencement: 1 December 2022
Service commencement: 1 May 2023

Tender Portal

This Request for Proposal will be released on SWSPHN’s tender portal, Tenderlink

Interested parties are encouraged to register for SWSPHNs Tender Portal to ensure they:

will receive email notifications when new procurement opportunities are published in relevant categories;
can download and view procurement documentation electronically; and
will be able to submit applications through the e-tender box facility.

18 July 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 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.

01 July 2022

South Western Sydney PHN (SWSPHN) welcomes Grand Pacific Health as the new lead agency of headspace Liverpool. Grand Pacific Health is a recognised health service provider and is currently the Lead Agency for six headspace centres across NSW.

Grand Pacific Health is taking over management of headspace Liverpool from The Benevolent Society commencing 1 July 2022.

SWSPHN’s Mental Health and Alcohol and Other Drugs Manager, Jade Weidner, said headspace Liverpool offers a vital service in supporting the mental health, physical health (including sexual), alcohol and other drugs, and work and study needs of young people aged 12 to 25 in the Liverpool area and surrounds. headspace is one of many services funded by SWSPHN to improve access to mental health services in South Western Sydney.

“We thank The Benevolent Society and Grand Pacific Health for working closely together over the last six months, and with SWSPHN and headspace National, to ensure a smooth transition of headspace Liverpool services for young people and their families,” Ms Weidner said.

SWSPHN thanks The Benevolent Society for their exceptional work in delivering headspace Liverpool during the past eight years, and their management of the smooth handover to Grand Pacific Health. SWSPHN also welcomes Grand Pacific Health as the new Lead Agency of headspace Liverpool, ensuring continuity of the headspace service for young people in South Western Sydney.

The change does not impact the services on offer at headspace Liverpool, which will continue to operate at 1/50 Macquarie Street, Liverpool, NSW 2170 and can be contacted by phone on 02 8107 6100, email info@headspaceliverpool.org.au, or visit their website headspace.org.au/headspace-centres/liverpool

Young people do not need a referral to access the service.

29 June 2022

The National Eating Disorders Collaboration’s (NEDC) latest online training is now available, Eating Disorder Core Skills: eLearning for Mental Health Professionals (MH Core Skills). This training has been developed specifically for mental health professionals and is evidence-based, nationally recognised and free to access.

Find out more

ANZAED’s Credentialed Eating Disorder Clinicians – database now live. In November 2021, the Australia and New Zealand Academy for Eating Disorders (ANZAED) and NEDC launched the ANZAED Eating Disorder Credential. The credential aims to help people experiencing eating disorders locate the right treatment at the right time, increasing the chance of positive treatment outcome; and support referrers to easily locate a mental health professional and/or dietitian to provide treatment for people experiencing an eating disorder.

Search the database

28 June 2022

SWSPHN has launched the No Wrong Door Framework and the new-look No Wrong Door Service Hub.

The framework is a set of self-paced interactive modules to help organisations who are signatories to the No Wrong Door charter enhance the implementation of the no wrong door philosophy and recovery-oriented approach. Organisations are encouraged to work through the self-paced modules and take time to review their practice, while tapping into additional resources and training.

The service hub is a one-stop shop for resources, updates and opportunities for collaboration. It includes all the great features signatory organisations are used to, along with the framework and toolkit of resources and supports to help participants convert their commitment to the No Wrong Door principle into tangible actions.

SWSPHN developed the No Wrong Door initiative in response to repeated reports of people experiencing endless closed doors when trying to navigate the mental health system and seek support.

It brings together a diverse range of government, non-government and community managed organisations to achieve the mutual aim of reducing barriers and enhancing support for people with severe and persistent mental illness with complex needs, their carers and families across South Western Sydney.

The new framework is key to this.

The framework covers three key areas for organisations to assess themselves against and develop actions for improvement. The areas are: Achieving the No Wrong Door Principles in Practice, Communication and Referral, and Outcome Measurement and Evaluation.

To support organisation in aligning to the No Wrong Door principles and framework indicators, they have access to:

Capacity building for individual staff through free training such as Mental Health First Aid training
Invitations to the Sector Forum, an opportunity for No Wrong Door charter signatory organisations to come together, network and engage in lively discussion on topics relevant to the sector
The new Connect your client feature, providing organisations a way to connect their clients to other charter organisations who can provide assistance

Learn more

To join the initiative, contact Pritika Desai via email at pritika.desai@swsphn.com.au or by calling 4632 3085.

22 June 2022

You’re invited to share your experience of the mental health and suicide prevention system at a “community conversation” at Liverpool on Thursday, 7 July, from 5pm to 6pm.

The National Mental Health Commission is holding the public meeting at Chipping Norton Community Centre, Central Avenue and Ascot Drive, as part of its Making Connections for Your Mental Health and Wellbeing (Connections2022) program.

Connections2022 is an opportunity to share how the mental health system is working for you and your community, any challenges you have experienced which impact your mental health and wellbeing and thoughts about what a functioning mental health system would look like for you.

By sharing your experience, you can help the commission to build evidence which shapes outcomes for future national mental health and suicide prevention reform.

Your invitation to the meeting

If this has raised any issues for you, support is available from:

Lifeline on 13 11 14
Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636
Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800