Mental health Archives | Page 2 of 22 | South Western Sydney PHN

11 November 2025

A mental health condition is a health issue just like any other. However, dealing with mental health conditions can be overwhelming to patients and their loved ones.

Parenting and mental health are deeply connected – for many parents, mental health can impact parenting and parenting can impact mental health.

Circumstances of parents can have a great impact on the immediate emotional and social wellbeing, and the future mental health outcomes for children. Children need age-appropriate education and support to understand and cope with a parent’s mental illness and this can significantly prevent or minimise the impact on them.

GPs, often the first point of contact for family health, play a vital role. By linking parents with the right support services and providing age-appropriate support to children they can help prevent or minimise the impact of parental mental illness on children.

Resources for GPs and other health professionals:

Emerging Minds
Emerging Minds – GPs resources
SWSLHD Family Focused Recovery (formerly Children of Parents with Mental Illness) – phone 9780 2777
NSW Health Family Focused Recovery Framework

This article appeared in Practice Pulse on Wednesday, 12 November 2025. 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.

04 November 2025

SWSPHN’s HEAL program and the importance of health literacy in successfully promoting physical activity, were highlighted at the WSYD Moving Symposium 2025 at Western Sydney Conference Centre, Penrith on Thursday, 30 October.

The symposium brought together more than 250 leaders, health practitioners and community voices under the theme Accelerating action – tackling inactivity and inequity, to urge cross-sector collaboration in unlocking healthier, more active lifestyles for all communities.

SWSPHN staff including Nisha Nair, Alyssa Horgan and Luke Swain (pictured) attended the event, with Nisha joining a panel focused on Embedding physical activity into health systems, where she discussed our HEAL (Healthy Eating Active Lifestyle) program.

HEAL is an eight-week evidence-based program designed for people who have, or are at risk of type 2 diabetes or cardiovascular disease, to improve their health through better nutrition, increased physical activity and long-term behaviour change.

During the panel discussion, Nisha gave HEAL as one example of a SWSPHN initiative which promoted physical activity saying there is capacity for the program to be scaled through joint collaboration.

“HEAL facilitates collaborative opportunities through providing templates for communication, options for the exercise components which can be adapted based on the group of participants and opportunities for health education,” she said.

“We have commissioned service providers within our region to run the HEAL program for our community, and we are hoping to support over 200 people within our region.

“Embedded within the program are opportunities for facilitators to collaborate with GPs and other relevant health providers involved in the care of the participants. We’re looking to explore different versions of HEAL for different population groups to expand the impact of the program.”

Penrith Deputy Mayor Garion Thain opened the event, which included an address by State Health Minister Ryan Park, and 40 speakers from health, local government, sport, academia and community sectors, covering Local Active Partnerships, systems leadership, community-led solutions and new opportunities for collaboration.

When asked about building the capability of the health workforce to champion physical activity – particularly for those who may not see it as ‘their role’ – Nisha spoke about how building opportunities to showcase the impact of those roles could result in ‘lightbulb moments’.

“I was at a youth refugee expo a few weeks ago, where we had a push up competition to build awareness of the impact of physical activity,” she said.

“As language was a barrier with some of the interactions at the event, we saw the impact volunteer interpreters made with bridging that health literacy gap.

“Not only did having interpreters help with building that awareness of physical activity with participants, they saw attendees taking flyers not only for themselves but for their siblings and parents.

“I saw the lightbulb moment in the volunteers’ heads – that sense of contribution they felt in that moment.”

WSYD Moving is a health-promotion charity. The symposium marked the official launch of the WSYD Moving Systems Leadership Course, a first-of-its-kind program designed to build capacity and strengthen collaboration across sectors.

WSYD Moving Convenor David Burns said physical inactivity cost the Western Sydney region more than $1.5 billion every year.

“We can’t solve this alone — it requires all of us working together. The symposium is a key event to bring parts of the system together, build relationships, and help to systemise approaches that enable communities to reduce inequity in access to more active lifestyles.”

Find out more about HEAL

Find out more about WSYD Moving

17 October 2025

South Western Sydney welcomed the official opening of Australia’s 50th Medicare Mental Health Centre – a new service at Campbelltown supporting people experiencing mental health concerns – on Friday, 17 October.

SWSPHN is funding Grand Pacific Health and its partners Odyssey House NSW, Relationships Australia NSW and Tharawal Aboriginal Corporation, to provide free, walk-in mental health and wellbeing support for Campbelltown and surrounding areas.

Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Emma McBride, joined Macarthur MP Michael Freelander, Werriwa MP Anne Stanley, State Mental Health Minister Rose Jackson, State Camden MP Sally Quinnell, Campbelltown Mayor Darcy Lound, and representatives from SWSPHN, Grand Pacific Health, its partners and the community for the service’s official launch.

Medicare Mental Health Centres offer a welcoming place where everyone can access free and confidential mental health information, services and supports from multidisciplinary care teams over extended hours.

Services are free and you don’t need an appointment or referral.

The support offered includes:

immediate help and follow-up for people who are in distress
support for people with mental health concerns
support for carers and families of people experiencing mental health distress
help connecting people with other services to support them in the future, from health to mental health, and social supports like housing and employment

SWSPHN Acting Chief Executive Officer, Amy Prince (pictured right), said there were high levels of psychological distress in South Western Sydney, with an estimated 221,864 people or 19.8 per cent of the region’s population likely experiencing a mental illness in the 12 months to June 2024.

“The prevalence of mental illness in our region is expected to increase within the next 10 years, and Medicare Mental Health Centres are playing a key role in improving access to appropriate care,” she said.

“Many people experience mental health challenges. This centre will ensure any resident can walk in and receive support, without a referral and at no cost.

“SWSPHN is pleased to see the opening of a second Medicare Mental Health Centre in our region, at this site in Campbelltown which is easily accessible by public transport and newly fitted out to meet the needs of our community.

“We’re also looking forward to again working closely with experienced mental health service provider Grand Pacific Health, which delivers SWSPHN-funded headspace centres at Oran Park, Edmondson Park and Liverpool, and Medicare Mental Health Centres across four other sites in NSW.”

Grand Pacific Health Chief Executive Officer, Adam Philips, said his organisation was thrilled to be able to continue supporting the Campbelltown region.

“This is the fifth Medicare Mental Health Centre we’ve launched,” he said. “We really believe in the model of care and look forward to offering integrated, wrap around care for anyone who comes through the door.”

Campbelltown is the second Medicare Mental Health Centre site in South Western Sydney.

It complements the SWSPHN-funded Liverpool Medicare Mental Health Centre at 203 Northumberland Street, Liverpool which opened in 2023. In the last financial year alone, the Liverpool centre provided support to more than 800 people.

Access support from Campbelltown Medicare Mental Health Centre

The Campbelltown Medicare Mental Health Centre is at Suite 5.05, 8 Dumaresq Street, Campbelltown.

People who need support, can drop into the centre on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9am to 5pm, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11am to 7pm and Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 3pm.

People who are not able to visit the centre in person can call 1800 595 212 to speak to an experienced professional to receive advice or a referral to a service which meets their needs, from 8.30am to 5pm weekdays (except public holidays).

Access more information and mental health resources

Find out more about Medicare Mental Health Centres in South Western Sydney on the SWSPHN website.

Find digital mental health resources from trusted providers on the Medicare Mental Health website

Pictured cutting the ribbon, from left, Sally Quinnell, Rose Jackson, Emma McBride, Darcy Lound, Anne Stanley, Michael Freelander and Amy Prince.

26 September 2025

The Connect for Life Photography Exhibition showcases the powerful work of nine artists who bring lived experience of suicide to their creative expression.

Each artist participated in an eight-week peer support and therapeutic photography program, creating a safe and supportive environment where participants connected, shared their stories and developed new skills in creative expression.

This exhibition forms parts of a broader suicide prevention and awareness campaign which centres the insights and wisdom of those with lived experience. Its goal is to challenge myths and transform harmful narratives which surround suicide in our society.

Official opening event: Thursday, 16 October 2025 | 5pm to 8pm

Join an evening featuring:

live music by local artists Ella’s Holiday
panel discussion with program participants and suicide prevention professionals
viewing of the complete exhibition

Exhibition details

where: Moss Vale Civic Centre Atrium (parking available on Donkin Avenue)
opening hours: Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm, Saturday, 9am to 12pm

The exhibition will remain open throughout the month of October for those unable to attend the opening event.

This project was made possible through funding from SWSPHN and implemented by Folkal and Ironbark Therapy.

26 September 2025

We’re all encouraged to celebrate taking steps on our wellbeing journey during Mental Health Month in October. 

Mental Health Month is held each year to encourage all of us to think about our mental health and wellbeing, regardless of whether we may have a lived experience of mental illness or not. 

It also gives us the opportunity to understand the importance of good mental health in our everyday lives, encourages help-seeking behaviours and fosters a supportive environment where people feel empowered to ask for help when needed. 

This year’s theme, Taking Steps on Your Wellbeing Journey, is about identifying the steps people can take to improve their mental health and wellbeing, while recognising progress isn’t always straightforward. The journey may include side steps or steps back, and that’s okay.

Visit the Wayahead website

5 Ways to Wellbeing 

The 5 Ways to Wellbeing are five simple and effective ways to improve your psychological and emotional health. A healthy mind is just as important as a healthy body for your overall wellbeing.

Like physical fitness, you can strengthen your psychological health in lots of small day-to-day ways. This will help you live a happier and a longer life as well as help you to cope with stress. 

Everyone can ‘try the 5’ at home, work or during study. Connect, Be Active, Keep Learning, Be Aware, Help Others.

Visit the 5 ways website

Our region, our services 

In South Western Sydney, one in five people experience mental ill health in a 12-month period. 

SWSPHN funds a range of mental health services to support those in our community impacted by mental health concerns. These services have been co-designed with our local community and service providers to meet the specific needs of South Western Sydney. 

Services include: 

Medicare Mental Health Centres, where adults can access free and confidential mental health information, services and supports from multidisciplinary care teams over extended hours. A new centre is opening later this month in Campbelltown and will complement the existing Liverpool centre. 

headspace, free or low-cost support for young people aged 12 to 25 years for their mental health, physical and sexual health, alcohol and other drugs, and work and study. We fund centres at Bankstown, Campbelltown, Liverpool, Edmondson Park and Oran Park.

NewAccess, a confidential guided six-session mental health coaching program designed to provide the skills to manage life stresses such as work, study, relationships, health or loneliness. NewAccess is free for residents in South Western Sydney.

Visit our website to find out more about our services

17 September 2025

SWSPHN proudly hosted its ninth annual Mental Health and Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) Roundtable, Stronger Together: Collaborative Pathways for Co-Morbidity Care, on Wednesday, 4 September, bringing together senior staff from services across the region to discuss ways to strengthen integrated care in the sector.

Facilitated by Sharon Pedersen, the roundtable highlighted the importance of collaboration and shared knowledge in addressing complex needs within the community.

The day began with a powerful lived experience story followed by a presentation from Kate Whitney, on behalf of Hello Sunday Morning, an Australian not-for-profit dedicated to helping people change their relationship with alcohol.

*Sally Boardman presenting on behalf of The Matilda Centre.*

Participants then heard from Sally Boardman of The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, who shared evidence-based insights into comorbidity guidelines and strategies for improving service partnerships.

After a networking lunch, SWSPHN’s HealthPathways and Planning Coordinator, Nicole Gonzaga, presented findings from the recent Local Health Forum, which focused on shaping the future of alcohol and other drugs support in the region.

The afternoon session concluded with a presentation from Simone Angus-Carr, a representative from the Ted Noffs Foundation, Australia’s largest provider of drug treatment services for young people.

Acting Mental Health and Alcohol and Other Drugs Manager, Pritika Desai, said the event was a valuable opportunity to strengthen connections and share knowledge across the sector.

“SWSPHN would like to thank all guest speakers and participants for contributing to a day of collaboration and learning,” she said.

“The roundtable continues to serve as a vital platform for building stronger partnerships to support those living with both mental health and substance use challenges.”

Find out more about alcohol and other drugs services in South Western Sydney

22 August 2025

The first round of Mental Health First Aid for Vietnamese communities wrapped up in Cabramatta on Wednesday, 13 August.

The 12-hour training was split over four sessions led by peer worker at Towards Zero Suicide/South Western Sydney Local Health District, Tam Nguyen.

SWSPHN funded the training under the Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Bilateral Schedule.

Attendees included Vietnamese carers, volunteers and community members with an interest in mental health who are living in South Western Sydney.

Participants said the course made them feel more “confident when talking to and supporting people going through mental health challenges” and more informed on “where to find help”.

SWSPHN Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Coordinator, Luisa Dematos, joined the group on their final day for lunch where they shared a tasty Vietnamese meal and talked through their key takeaways from the course.

The training was supported by the Vietnamese Australian Welfare Association and held at the Cabravale Senior Citizens Centre.

The next course is planned for October and will be delivered in Bankstown area.

Vietnamese families, carers and other community members who have an interest in mental health education/information are welcome to attend. Email minhtam.nguyen@health.nsw.gov.au to register for the session.

SWSPHN-funded Mental Health First Aid for Vietnamese communities was a success with participants saying they now feel ‘more confident when talking to and supporting people going through mental health challenges’.

22 August 2025

Young people from culturally and linguistically diverse LGBTQIA+ communities have embraced the opportunity to collaborate on a project designed to support mental health literacy.

Sydney University hosted a design-a-thon event which was funded by SWSPHN under the Department of Health and Aged Care’s Targeted Regional Initiatives for Suicide Prevention program.

It was one of nine grants of between $50,000 and $200,000 issued to community groups and organisations to fund a variety of activities which included peer-led group supports, and creative and awareness campaigns.

The design-a-thon event called for young people from South Western Sydney to create an online hub for mental health literacy among culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) youth who identify as LGBTQIA+, along with an ongoing campaign to support it.

The hub will include information in multiple languages and real stories of people seeking help for mental health concerns.

Dr Horas Wong from Sydney University said the event brought together a strong group of young people from CALD LGBTQIA+ backgrounds and was supported by around a dozen community organisations, who contributed mentors and judges.

He said participants were “highly engaged throughout, generated multiple high-quality ideas and reported having an amazing experience”.

“We’ll be working closely with the winning team to develop their idea as part of the mental health hub. We also plan to share our experience in the upcoming multicultural health conference in November,” Dr Wong said.

In August this year, LGBTQIA+ young people from culturally and linguistically backgrounds worked together to create a multilingual online information hub and a suicide awareness campaign, as part of the design-a-thon project.

20 June 2025

A new service opening in South Western Sydney later this year will expand and enhance the free support available to people who have recently attempted suicide.

South Western Sydney PHN (SWSPHN) will fund mental health service provider Neami National to deliver Universal Aftercare services, under a bilateral agreement between the Australian and NSW governments.

Aftercare is free, non-clinical psychosocial support for people after a suicide attempt.

Neami National will collaborate with a wide range of local stakeholders, including SWSPHN, South Western Sydney Local Health District, other community managed organisations and local community members, to shape the service to meet the specific needs of the local community.

The service will work with consumers in the short to medium-term to:

improve mental wellbeing and capacity to self-manage distress
build formal and informal supportive networks
reduce risk of future suicidal crisis and/or suicide attempts

In 2022, suicide was the leading cause of death for young people aged 15 to 24, with more than 3,200 lives lost across Australia. Men and First Nations people are particularly at risk, with men making up 75 per cent of suicide deaths and First Nations people being twice as likely to die by suicide.

The Universal Aftercare initiative recognises the relative risk of suicide after attempted suicide is between 20 to 40 times higher than in the general population. It aims to prevent suicide behaviours by improving access to, and engagement with care and supports.

SWSPHN Chief Executive Officer, Dr Keith McDonald PhD, said SWSPHN’s 2025-2028 Needs Assessment identified the need to address barriers to accessing suicide prevention support services in our region like cost, language and logistics. It also highlighted the importance of tailoring services to an individual’s need.

“Along with a particular focus on delivering timely support immediately after a hospital or mental health service visit, Universal Aftercare will provide proactive outreach support to at-risk clients at a time and place which suits both the client and the service,” he said.

“Another key focus for the service will be ensuring clients are connected to the right supports for their unique circumstances.

“Importantly, this service will help clients navigate and stay connected to non-clinical psychosocial support in a way which complements their clinical care, providing practical assistance on the recovery journey.”

Dr McDonald said SWSPHN was looking forward to working with Neami National to ensure people in crisis in our community were supported to build the skills to manage their mental wellbeing, as well as other aspects of their health.

The new service is expected to commence in early August.

If you, or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, talking about self-harm or is noticeably in serious distress, call Triple Zero (000).

19 June 2025

Young people living in South Western Sydney are benefiting from a new mental health support service, headspace Oran Park.

South Western Sydney PHN (SWSPHN) has funded Grand Pacific Health to deliver the service, designed to provide a safe and welcoming space for young people aged 12 to 25.

headspace aims to provide an integrated approach to wellness by offering support for a young person’s mental, physical and sexual health, as well as counselling in areas such as work and study goals, or problems with alcohol or drugs.

SWSPHN Chief Executive Officer, Dr Keith McDonald PhD, praised the team at headspace Oran Park who had worked “tirelessly” to establish the new service and welcomed the opportunity to collaborate with Grand Pacific Health in its delivery.

“Grand Pacific Health is a recognised health service provider which is currently the lead agency for 12 headspace centres, including two satellite centres across NSW, as well as a centre at Liverpool and Edmondson Park,” he said.

“An outreach service in Narellan has also opened to complement the Oran Park service and improve access to young people who live, work and study in the Camden Local Government Area.”

Dr McDonald said SWSPHN was proud to facilitate and fund services like headspace on behalf of the Australian Government, which enhanced access to mental health treatment in our region.

“The Oran Park centre will complement other youth services funded by SWSPHN, including headspace centres in Campbelltown, Liverpool, Edmondson Park and Bankstown, as well as ReFrame in the Wollondilly and Wingecarribee Shires,” he said.

“This is a remarkable milestone which represents an ongoing commitment to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of young people in our region, recognising their importance in our future.”

headspace National Chief Executive Officer Jason Trethowan said: “we’re proud to see headspace Oran Park officially open, creating a welcoming place for young people to get support with their mental health, physical and sexual health, alcohol and other drug use, and vocational goals.

“Every young person deserves access to care that is inclusive, evidence-based and easy to navigate. headspace Oran Park will offer just that, meeting the needs of a growing and vibrant community.

“I want to thank our partners Grand Pacific Health, SWSPHN and the local young people who helped shape this service. Together, we’re creating spaces where young people feel seen, heard and supported.”

Grand Pacific Health Executive Manager, Youth and Primary Care, Jenny Valdivia, said: “the centre is a testament to the many young people who consulted with us in establishing the service, our Youth Reference Group members who volunteer their time to ensure we deliver the best supports we can to young people and their families and our many consortium partners.

“We are really excited to see the impact this service has on the wellbeing of young people in the Oran Park and surrounding areas.”

According to Australian Bureau of Statistics figures almost two in five young Australians aged 16 to 24 have faced a mental health disorder in the past year.

The Camden Local Government Area, including Oran Park, has a relatively young population, with almost 20 per cent of the total classified as youth. By 2045, the number of children aged 0 to 9 is expected to grow by nearly 20 per cent in Oran Park and 60 per cent in Camden, while the youth population is projected to rise by around 60 per cent in both Oran Park and Camden LGA.

Over the past decade, the number of 18 to 24-year-olds accessing mental health services has significantly increased, by 44.6 per cent for males, and by 69.5 per cent for females.

Clients do not need a doctor’s referral to access the service. They can simply drop-in to visit the service or phone the centre on 4604 3030 to make an appointment.

headspace Oran Park is located at Level 5, Suite 5.04, 3 Fordham Way, Oran Park. It is open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 8.30am to 5pm and Thursday from 11am to 7pm.

The headspace outreach service at Narellan is located at the Narellan Library forecourt, corner of Queen and Elyard Streets. It is open Monday to Wednesday from 9am to 5pm.

Visit headspace Oran Park’s website to learn more about the service.

Pictured above: headspace Oran Park Youth Reference Group member Stacey (centre) was joined by (from left) Hume MP Angus Tayor, Grand Pacific Health CEO Adam Phillips, SWSPHN Director of Planning and Performance Amy Prince and headspace CEO Jason Trethowan, to cut the ribbon at the official opening of headspace Oran Park.