Topic: Mental health

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).

Service Announcement

South Western Sydney residents will have access to a second Medicare Mental Health Centre when the new Campbelltown service opens in October.

South Western Sydney PHN (SWSPHN) has commissioned Grand Pacific Health and its partners Odyssey House, Relationship Australia and Tharawal Aboriginal Corporation, to operate the Campbelltown centre.

The centre will provide free, walk-in, mental health and wellbeing support without the need for an appointment or referral.

Grand Pacific Health is a recognised health service provider, and currently manages Medicare Mental Health Centres at Moruya, Shellharbour, Wagga Wagga and Young.

Medicare Mental Health Centres are designed to be a welcoming place where everyone can access free and confidential mental health information, services and support from multidisciplinary care teams made up of social workers, psychologists, nurses, and peer support workers.

The centres are also open extended hours.

The centres offer:

• 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 Chief Executive Officer, Dr Keith McDonald PhD, said a second Medicare Mental Health Service would further boost access to mental health and wellbeing services in the region for adults experiencing moderate to high levels of distress or crisis.

“What makes Medicare Mental Health Centres so effective is the holistic approach they provide,” he said.

“People can simply walk-in to access on-the-spot free support from a trained mental health professional. If a person receives immediate assistance, it often reduces the level of mental and emotional distress they feel.

“They are then guided to access or connect to the specific mental health and related services they are assessed as needing.

“Peer support workers, with their own lived experience of mental illness, are also on hand to support clients with empathy and understanding.”

The Campbelltown centre comes in addition to the Liverpool Medicare Mental Health Centre (formerly Liverpool Head to Health Centre) which opened in 2023 and is located at 203 Northumberland Street, Liverpool.

The Liverpool centre has provided support to almost 900 individuals since it opened in August 2023, and delivered close to 12,000 hours of service.

Anyone can access Medicare Mental Health Centres.

There is no cost, no appointment and no referral needed, and clients don’t need to be an Australian citizen to access support.

A local service funded by South Western Sydney PHN (SWSPHN) which played a significant role in suicide prevention in the region is set to make way for a new and expanded model under the banner of Universal Aftercare.

The Way Back Support Service was the first service of its kind to task the commissioned provider – Grand Pacific Health – to work in partnership with the South Western Sydney Local Health District (SWSLHD) in providing lifesaving suicide aftercare support.

Established in 2021 it has helped 660 people in South Western Sydney gain access to non-clinical care and practical support following a suicide attempt or suicidal crisis.

The Way Back offered psychosocial suicide aftercare within one day of receiving a referral from Liverpool or Campbelltown Hospital’s emergency departments, or SWSLHD’s mental health teams.

The person in crisis worked with a support coordinator or a peer support worker and was guided through a safety planning and personalised aftercare program for up to three months. This could include anything from mental health support services to financial advice, connecting them with community groups or helping them attend healthcare appointments.

Many patients have reported being better able to cope after accessing The Way Back support.

One female patient accessed the service wanting to improve how she managed the symptoms of mental ill health. She had weekly telephone support for 12 weeks from a support coordinator, connected with a peer worker and attended face-to-face peer-led support groups. The support coordinator liaised with a GP to organise ongoing psychiatry service treatment.

Towards the end of the program, the patient reported “handling suicidal thoughts a lot better”. She said she did not feel the need for ongoing suicide support at present because The Way Back “helped me get to a place where my suicidal thoughts are a lot better now”.   

A second female patient accessed the service wanting to increase how she coped with the high levels of distress caused by the care of a family member. She attended weekly face-to-face sessions with a peer worker who assisted her to practise mindfulness through colouring and listening to guided meditations. The peer worker also linked the patient with a community-run peer group.

The consumer reported being grateful for the support of the peer worker, saying her time with the program “means a lot, and it has been so helpful”. 

SWSPHN Chief Executive Officer, Dr Keith McDonald PhD, said most of the clients who were helped by The Way Back service reported a significant improvement in their mental health.

“This person-centred network of support helps people suffering a crisis to take back control of their lives and seek the support they need to help with their mental health,” he said.

“We look forward to seeing the new and expanded care model come to life under Universal Aftercare.”

Activities engaging priority populations to reduce their risk of suicide and promote help-seeking and connectedness have now been boosted through a South Western Sydney PHN small grants program.

Grants of between $50,000 and $200,000 have been issued to nine community groups and organisations to fund a variety of activities including peer-led group supports and creative and awareness campaigns.

The grants are funded by South Western Sydney PHN under the Department of Health and Aged Care’s Targeted Regional Initiatives for Suicide Prevention program which aims to build resilience and knowledge within the local community by increasing mental health literacy, help-seeking and knowledge of local services, all protective factors for suicide prevention.

Activities undertaken under the grants program run until December 2025.

The holiday season is a time for celebration with family and friends, but it can also be challenging for many people’s mental health. If you feel isolated, sad, or anxious, you’re not alone. It’s common to experience:

• frustration
• sadness
• fatigue
• tension
• a sense of loss
• feelings of isolation and loneliness.

Tips to support your mental and emotional health

1. Stay Connected: Keep in touch with trusted family and friends. If you can’t be with them in person, use phone or digital platforms. Check in on friends and community members who might also feel alone.
2. Look After Your Physical Health: Eat healthy and get enough sleep. Practise meditation or deep breathing exercises to reduce stress.
3. Be in Touch with Your Emotions: It’s ok to not be ok. Practise self-compassion and speak to yourself with kindness.
4. Limit Social Media: Take breaks from social media to avoid comparing your experiences to others. Set boundaries to protect your mental health.
5. Speak Out if You Need Help: If your efforts to manage stress aren’t enough, ask for help. Connect with support services and consider professional help.

Visit the Head to Health website for more tips on how you can support your mental and emotional wellbeing.