Mental health Archives | Page 17 of 23 | South Western Sydney PHN

14 December 2021

Head to Health hubs are providing free and easy-to-access mental health support in South Western Sydney, attendees at the launch of the new Commonwealth-funded service were told on Wednesday, 8 December.

The clinics opened in September and are leading the state in the number of consumers accessing support.

The service provides short-to-medium term support for people experiencing moderate-to-high levels of mental health distress. People who need support can call 1800 595 212 or pop into one of the hubs at any time to discuss their mental health needs and concerns.

Dr Keith McDonald PhD, Chief Executive Officer of South Western Sydney PHN (SWSPHN) which commissions the service, said South Western Sydney was on the frontlines of the pandemic when funding for the service was announced in August.

“The pandemic and the lockdown had a heavy impact on our community, with an increase in psychological distress,” he said. “What was needed was a high quality, flexible service that was open to everyone, with no out-of-pocket costs.

“Together with One Door, we have worked hard to get these services established, and our community has embraced the service with more than 150 individuals already accessing Head to Health.”

Kathi Boorman, Chief Executive Officer of One Door Mental Health which delivers the service, reported a 25 per cent increase in referrals compared to the previous financial year, with the uncertainty, job losses, isolation and stress on relationships caused by the pandemic.

“We really needed the service up and running in a short period of time,” she said. “We needed a service that was more humane and person-centred. Feedback from services users includes: it is helpful, life-saving, staff are friendly and approachable, and it is mental health support which works.”

Program Manager Chris Jones said Head to Health made the first step to seeking support easy.

“We have a skilled and passionate multidisciplinary team providing efficient, effective and navigable support to people of all ages, genders, sexuality and cultural backgrounds,” he said.

More information about Head to Health Pop Up services can be accessed via

HeadtoHealth.gov.au/PopUp

Head to Health Hubs are open at:

Suite 24, 1-5 Jacobs Street, Jacobs Court, Bankstown
Level 6, 203 Northumberland Street, Liverpool

08 December 2021

A free mental health program for older Australians across South Western Sydney can now be accessed by people who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The program “Continuing to be Me at home” (C2bMe@Home) has been developed to help older Australians who have struggled with mental wellbeing and isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and extended lockdowns. The program is delivered to people who need it from the comfort of their own home either face to face or via telehealth.

The Federal Government has provided funding and support this initiative and make mental health services more accessible for older Australians across South-West with the help of Primary Health Network.

South Western Sydney PHN has worked closely with primary care services, hospitals, the NSW Mental Health Pandemic Response Taskforce and the State and Federal Governments in identifying Uniting Recovery as a partner in establishing mental health services for seniors in this region.

SWSPHN Chief Executive Officer, Dr Keith McDonald PhD, said “Mental health doesn’t discriminate. Many people in our region may have never experienced mental ill-health before and are facing new challenges due to COVID-19 so it has never been more important to ensure our community can access critical support and mental health services during these challenging times. The service opened in South Western Sydney in October 2021 and is available for anyone over 65 that needs mental health support. The service is available to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders aged over 50 years.”

The C2bMe@Home service is a new addition to Uniting Recovery’s mental health services which already includes Youth Enhanced Support Service (YESS), C2bMe and NDIS Mental Health Services in South Western Sydney.

Uniting Recovery is excited to be running the C2bMe@Home program and welcomes the funding to support the emotional and mental wellbeing of older Australians. It has become particularly important as many have been impactd by extended lockdowns is South Western Sydney.

The program is currently seeking out allied health professionals and GP to help them identify older persons who may need assistance in the community. The focus of the program is to increase connectedness, develop hope, reinforce identity and purpose, reduce symptomatology, and increase the functioning of participants.

Mental health has become an increasingly important health issue across Australia caused by extended lockdowns and as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has taken a huge toll on the wellbeing of Australians who have been affected through loss of employment, housing, relationship breakdowns and increased financial burden. And hence one of the aims of program is to provide targeted support for seniors, based on their specific needs.

The free C2bMe@Home program aims to make a real difference for the seniors that have been impacted by the pandemic.

To find out more about the C2bMe@Home SWS program and to make a referral please contact 1800 422 263 or email.

Website: Read more about c2bMe

30 November 2021

A new online course – A GP Framework for Child Mental Health Assessment (5-12 years) – is being held through Emerging Minds Learning.

Emerging Minds offers free resources for practitioners working with families and children to improve child mental health outcomes in Australia.

The course attracts 40 CPD points through the RACGP CPD Accreditation program and is recognised by the General Practice Mental Health Standards Collaboration (GPMHSC) as a stand-alone Clinical Enhancement Module (as part of the MHST modular pathway).

Resources include:

09 November 2021

Mentoring Men provides life mentoring programs for adult men in the community and is presenting The Connection Experience, starting Wednesday, 18 November.

The Connection Experience is designed to give younger men, aged typically 18 to 32, a better idea of what’s involved in mentoring conversations and support.

It aims to help participants find answers to sometimes hard to ask questions such as:

How do I connect with the activities I want to do in life?
How do I get better connected with friends and groups?
What are my options when it comes to living the life I want to live?

Bookings/enquires can be made at info@mentoringmen.org.au

Find out more

08 November 2021

A GP framework for infant and early childhood mental health assessment (0-5 years) aims to enhance the clinical practice in mental health of GPs working with infants and young children aged 0 to five years.

The Emerging Minds online course has been developed in collaboration with a GP consultancy group to equip GPs with knowledge of common child mental health conditions, strengthen their engagement skills for interacting with a child and their family, and develop practical skills for child mental health assessment and management.

The course is accredited with the RACGP as a CPD Accredited Activity (40 CPD points) and with ACRMM as a PDP Activity (6 PDP hours). It is also accredited by the General Practice Mental Health Standards Collaboration (GPMHSC) as stand-alone Clinical Enhancement Module. The course is available to practitioners free of charge.

Below you’ll find:

A summary of the course and its learning outcomes

A prescribed GP learning pathway which includes other relevant online courses

A Pathways of Care template to download and use to create a central database of services you can reach out to

A promotional video about this course

03 November 2021

In Australia, getting mental health support early is considered a positive thing to do. Getting help early is good for you and the people around you.

There are mental health services for free for anyone living in Australia, and translators available too.

Visit our YouTube playlist and choose your preferred language

Watch the video in your language:

If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, speak to a GP, visit the Head To Health Pop Up page on this website or call 1800 595 212. Your mental health and wellbeing depend on it.

Website: Visit our YouTube playlist to find a video in your language

14 October 2021

Early assessment and support for mental illness is particularly important for children and young people to prevent negative long-term impacts. Many infants and children visit their GP frequently and these consultations present the ideal opportunity for early intervention.

However, most doctors are pressed for time and some may lack confidence in identifying and addressing mental health concerns, especially in infants and toddlers. Supporting children’s mental health doesn’t need to be difficult or time-consuming. Many of the skills GPs use every day can be applied to support children’s mental health.

Australia’s Emerging Minds provides an evidence-informed guide created specifically for GPs. This article includes links to brief videoclips, podcasts and e-learning courses on conducting child mental health assessments.

Early intervention and referral by GPs can prevent progression of a mental health condition, contributing importantly to children’s future wellbeing.

Download referral information

29 September 2021

October is Mental Health Month and South Western Sydney Recovery College is running its annual, month-long, Online Mental Health Summit. There are some really great workshops including two being presented by South Western Sydney PHN (SWSPHN) staff.

The SWSPHN workshops are:

Title: Q&A for Youth – Coping with COVID-19 (ages 12 to 25 and their families) information session

When: Tuesday, 26 October 2021, 6.30pm to 8pm

Facilitator: Kate Johnson, Mental Health Program Advisor, SWSPHN

Learning Outcomes:

Explore feelings and self-help strategies to improve and maintain wellbeing
Understand COVID-19 and vaccinations
Increase awareness of mental health supports available for young people aged 12 to 25

Panel:

Joshua Karras – Executive Manager at United Nations Association of Australia (NSW), Greater Sydney Commission Youth Board member at Department of Premier and Cabinet NSW
Bianca Lean – COVID-19 Response Coordinator, SWSPHN
Aniela Gokiert – Acting Senior Clinical Manager, headspace Bankstown
Dr Rachel Kalman – GP, headspace Bankstown
Nayma and Helen – South Western Sydney Local Health District Youth Health Advisory Group board members

Register here (places are limited)

Title: Navigating Mental Health Support and Self Help during COVID

When: Wednesday, 27 October 2021, 9.30am to 11am

Facilitators: Devendra Sapkota, Mental Health Service Navigator and Sophie Mara, Mental Health Intake Officer, SWSPHN

Learning outcomes:

Explore feelings and self-help strategies to improve and maintain wellbeing
Increase awareness of Primary Health Network mental health services available
Increase awareness of free online and phone based mental health supports and tool

Register here (places are limited)

Some of the other workshop topics are:

Creative Resilience – Your Stories
Covid Connections
Building Resilience in Challenging Times
Roads to Recovery
Pandemic Impacts on Aboriginal Elders
Exploring Inclusivity for LGBTQIA+ People with Disability
Gambling Resilience and Recovery in a Pandemic
Talking Towards Zero Suicide
Exploring Anxiety – a Pandemic Perspective

Download the full program

24 September 2021

Congratulations to South Western Sydney PHN-funded service, ReFrame, which has been shortlisted for the WayAhead Mental Health Matters Youth Award.

The award recognises excellence in programs, projects or initiatives which have focused their efforts on prevention and early intervention with young people.

Winners will be announced during Mental Health Month in October.

ReFrame is a service delivered by Community Links Wellbeing which gives 12-to-25-year-olds in the Wollondilly and Wingecarribee shires the tools they need to make important and practical decisions about their mental health.

Youth engagement workers and youth mental health professionals provide information and support to young people who are experiencing stress, anxiety, depression and other mental health concerns due to common issues including physical health, family and relationships, and study or work.

The service has walk-in centres in Tahmoor and Bowral to encourage young people to come into the centres and engage with youth workers, building relationships and a level of comfort.

The Mental Health Matters Award winners in eight categories will be announced at 3pm on Wednesday, 13 October. Watch the Facebook Live event at https://fb.me/e/mkvkQoiFa to see ReFrame recognised for their incredible work in mental health.

16 September 2021

South Western Sydney PHN’s (SWSPHN) new Mental Health Service Navigator is linking people living with complex or persistent mental illness with local mental health services and support. The program is free to the South Western Sydney community.

Find out more about the program from SWSPHN’s Mental Health Service Navigator, Devendra Sapkota.

What is your background – ie experience/knowledge with supporting mental health patients and relationships with relevant services?

I have a medical background with 10 years’ experience working in general practice. I have recently completed my Masters in Health Service Management and am passionate about helping people improve their mental health. I was born and grew up in Nepal, and moved to Australia 12 years ago and I have been living in the South Western Sydney for last seven years. I can speak Nepali, Hindi, Filipino and English, and I am the president of Southwest Nepalese Community Sydney and also in the advisory bord of Multicultural Society Campbelltown. Connecting and engaging CALD communities is a passion of mine.

Who is this new service aiming to help?

The service navigator program is aimed at improving wellbeing and recovery for people who have severe mental illness. It also provides information, advice and referrals for consumers, family members, carers, health professionals and service providers.

Where is this service available?

This service is available across South Western Sydney (Bankstown, Fairfield, Liverpool, Campbelltown, Wollondilly and Wingecarribee).

How does the role work?

The service navigator works directly with people and links them with the services and support they require to improve their health and wellbeing. This could be medical, psychological, housing, drug or alcohol support or financial assistance. This could include completing referrals, providing information or advice on local services and who can help.

How is this service working during COVID-19 lockdown?

Due to this COVID-19, we are not able to provide face-to-face support during the lockdown, but I can provide the service by telephone, telehealth, or skype whichever the person is comfortable with. I am very flexible.

How do people with mental illness, their carers and friends know if this service can support them?

If a person is struggling with severe mental illness and needs to be connected to support and services but are unsure who can help or where to go, the service navigator service can help them.

How will people with mental illness, their careers and friends benefit from this service?

The service will work with a person to link them with local services which can help improve their wellbeing and mental health recovery. This could include medical, psychological, housing, drug or alcohol support or financial assistance.

The service navigator has local knowledge and experience and can work directly with them. The service is free, confidential and people can call any time, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm except public holidays.

What should people using the service expect?

Mostly, I will be the service navigator for them by providing professional support and information, also linking them to the right service and the right person so they will not waste their time by going from one place to another place or one provider to another provider.

Is there support for people who don’t speak English as a first language through this service?

I speak multiple languages. If the client speaks any of those languages, I can help directly. If they speak another language, I will consult with my team and find solutions and appropriate services.

How do people with mental illness, their carers and friends access the service?

They can contact me directly via phone or email. No need to complete a referral form – anybody can refer to me – family, friends or carers as long as you have the person’s permission.

All consultations are free and confidential. Simply call 4632 3024 or email servicenavigator@swsphn.com.au