Mental health Archives | Page 4 of 23 | South Western Sydney PHN

28 February 2025

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.

25 February 2025

way back generic pic

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.”

03 January 2025

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.

12 December 2024

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

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.
Look After Your Physical Health: Eat healthy and get enough sleep. Practise meditation or deep breathing exercises to reduce stress.
Be in Touch with Your Emotions: It’s ok to not be ok. Practise self-compassion and speak to yourself with kindness.
Limit Social Media: Take breaks from social media to avoid comparing your experiences to others. Set boundaries to protect your mental health.
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.

10 December 2024

Two new service providers are now delivering South Western Sydney PHN’s Clinical Suicide Prevention Service. This improves access to appropriate, safe, and timely clinical care for people at low-to-moderate risk of suicide following a suicide attempt or experiencing a suicidal crisis.

Community Links Wellbeing is providing services in Wollondilly and Wingecarribee Shires. One Door Mental Health is delivering services in Camden, Campbelltown, Liverpool, Fairfield, and Bankstown local government areas. This follows a period of transition from former provider Grand Pacific Health.

Who can access the service?

The Clinical Suicide Prevention Service provides free psychological therapies for people who:

have continued suicidal ideation after discharge from acute services
present at a GP clinic after a suicide attempt
present to a GP with persistent suicidal ideation

Patients require a referral from either a GP or one of South Western Sydney Local Health District’s mental health teams to access the service.

How to refer patients

GPs can refer their patients to the service by contacting SWSPHN’s Mental Health Central Intake. Visit the SWSPHN Central Intake page for more information on how to refer your patients.

About the service providers

Community Links Wellbeing is a not-for-profit community organisation working across Camden, Wollondilly, and Wingecarribee. It supports locals through community development, events, groups, workshops, youth programs, crisis support, carer support, family support, allied health, and mental health services.

One Door Mental Health is a leading mental health provider. It specialises in anxiety and depression, as well as severe and persistent mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, psychosis, schizoaffective disorder, and borderline personality disorder.

A message from the CEO

South Western Sydney PHN CEO, Dr Keith McDonald PhD, said the Clinical Suicide Prevention Service had provided accessible and sensitive individual psychological therapy services across the region since July 2017.

Dr McDonald thanked Grand Pacific Health for its commitment to delivering the service over the past almost two years. He also welcomed Community Links Wellbeing and One Door Mental Health as the new service providers.

“This service aims to help clients through the healing process with supports appropriate to their need,” Dr McDonald said. “This might include identifying treatment goals, safety planning, psychological therapy, or referrals to longer-term services if needed.

“We’re looking forward to working with Community Links Wellbeing and One Door Mental Health to ensure this service continues to provide effective and efficient care. This will help meet the urgent needs of people in our community at risk of suicide.”

If you, or someone you know, is having suicidal thoughts, talking about self-harm, or is noticeably in serious distress, call Triple Zero (000). Alternatively, contact the NSW Mental Health Access Line on 1800 011 511.

Find out more about the Clinical Suicide Prevention Service.

13 November 2024

Local mental health programs highlighted at SWSPHN symposium

South Western Sydney PHN hosted its biennial Mental Health Symposium at Campbelltown Arts Centre on Friday, 1 November 2024.

The symposium showcased innovative mental health initiatives, programs, and support services tailored to address community needs across the region.

Adam Holstein, disability and mental health advocate and founder of “How You Going Mate?”, emceed the event. His initiative encourages people to check in on friends and family, and his podcast has over 1,700 listeners.

Acknowledgement of country

The event opened with an acknowledgment of country by Gomeroi man Raymond Weatherall. They shared stories of his childhood and explained the important role of connection to land and culture in mental wellbeing.

Keynote speakers and event highlights

The symposium featured two keynote speakers, Dr Evelyne Tadros, CEO of the Mental Health Coordinating Council, and Bronwen Edwards, CEO of Roses in the Ocean.

Dr Tadros discussed the urgent need for collaborative workforce strategies in mental health, advocating for flexible outcome measures and funding reforms which allow programs time to achieve standards.

“The next steps are joint workforce strategy and flexibility of using outcomes and trying to get consistency and how outcome measures are used,” she said. “I’m advocating for a year of preparatory work in new funding arrangements to meet mental health standards effectively.”

Bronwen Edwards highlighted the essential role of people with lived/living experiences in suicide prevention. They stressed the need to integrate their insights into mental health support frameworks.

“People with a lived/living experience of suicide really couldn’t see their voice anywhere, and the type of help available simply wasn’t being informed by people who have walked in those shoes,” she said.

“When you look at the overarching reform needed in suicide prevention, we needed to hear from people who knew what it was like to get to the point where they just did not feel like there was another option to escape from their ache and pain they were experiencing.”

“It is really important we have the right voices at the table. You could fill this whole room with people who have made attempts on their lives, and you will have a whole room full of different stories.”

Networking and peer support

Following the keynote addresses, attendees networked over morning tea and visited informational stalls. Stalls included South Western Sydney headspace services, Community Links Wellbeing, Safehaven, SWSLHD, Lifeline Macarthur, One Door Mental Health, Peer Care Companion and Wellways Carer Gateway.

Chris Grumley, Team Coordinator Peer Specialist at Flourish Australia, spoke on the impact of peer support roles in mental health.

“Connection is really the keystone in which we do all of our work. It’s about meaningful, purposeful, human connections which we built with people,” he said.

“It is really important to understand peer work can appear in a lot of different places in a lot of different ways, and we are now integrated into all levels of the processes of all levels of organisations.”

Key mental health topics

The Mental Health Symposium offered six focused sessions covering a range of key topics, including:

Supporting Recovery Program, presented by Karen Triggs, Anglicare Sydney and Hitika Bhatia, CatholicCare Sydney
Tackling the Challenge, presented by A/Prof Neil Hall, Western Sydney University and Tessa Bayrante, South Western Sydney Local Health District
Indigenous wellbeing practices, presented by Jeff Hardy, a wellbeing coach and mentor
Best practice interventions for eating disorders, presented by Bronwyn Scott of the National Eating Disorders Collaboration and Rebecca White of South Western Sydney Local Health District
Regional initiatives in suicide prevention, presented by Filipe Gama e Silva from Mentoring Men and Micheal Collins from The Men’s Table
Gambling trends in South Western Sydney and mental health impact, presented by Dr Kate da Costa from Wesley Mission

Final thoughts on mental wellbeing

Later during lunch, organisers encouraged attendees to support men’s mental health by posing behind the Movember photo frame.

In the afternoon session, Veronique Jordaan and Jess Chadwick from Neami National presented on Head to Health. A panel discussion followed, focusing on mental health, substance misuse, and societal influences on wellbeing.

Adam Holstein closed the Mental Health Symposium with a reminder to prioritise self-care and mental wellbeing.

Learn more about SWSPHN-funded primary mental health and suicide prevention services.

31 October 2024

For victims of family, domestic or sexual violence the trauma doesn’t end once the immediate crisis is resolved, and many have a long journey of recovery ahead of them.

The Supporting Recovery from Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence Program aims to address the critical need for comprehensive support services for victim-survivors of family, domestic and sexual violence in South Western Sydney.

Tragically, there were about 5,200 domestic violence-related assault offences across South Western Sydney from July 2022 to June 2023, with Campbelltown, Liverpool and Fairfield having the highest representation.

South Western Sydney Primary Health Network (SWSPHN) has been funded by the Department of Health and Aged Care to deliver the pilot program, which aims to fill a gap in services and ensure the thousands of people affected by domestic violence-related assault in our region have every support they need to get back on their feet.

There are two components to the service.

Anglicare and CatholicCare began delivering mental health support in May, and SWSPHN has now commissioned The Benevolent Society to provide the Local Care Team (LCT) component, beginning in November.

The LCT’s role is to help clients coordinate and manage their recovery journey, and connect them with services such as legal, financial and housing supports; trained psychologists, social workers and counsellors who specialise in providing trauma-informed and client-centred mental healthcare.

The LCT will focus on receiving referrals, providing case and care management to victim-survivors, and referring them to necessary social services, including psychological therapies.

It will also continue to support existing clients if they find themselves in crisis situations throughout their recovery journey in recognition of the fact that recovery is not linear, and that victim-survivors may continue to experience different forms of violence even after receiving support.

The holistic, culturally appropriate service is available at no cost for a period up to two years for each client.

SWSPHN Chief Executive Officer, Dr Keith McDonald PhD, said commissioning the LCT service was an important step in ensuring better outcomes for victim-survivors of violence.

“I congratulate The Benevolent Society for taking on the role of offering our community this much-needed service. Such ongoing support will help the people of South Western Sydney to create a better, safer life for themselves and their families,’’ he said.

The Benevolent Society’s Centre for Women’s, Children’s and Family Health will facilitate the LCT service in the Campbelltown, Liverpool and Fairfield local government areas. The centre has provided integrated support services to women, children and families since 1994.

The Benevolent Society Chief Executive Officer, Lin Hatfield Dodds, said access to ongoing supports was critical for victim-survivors as they worked towards healing and recovery.

“The Supporting Recovery from Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence Program is about providing trauma-informed long-term recovery care,” she said.

“The Benevolent Society is proud to be the Local Care Team service provider to help coordinate access to support services for victim-survivors in South Western Sydney. Our staff have strong local community ties, and we remain committed to supporting their health, wellbeing and healing.”

Find out more about Supporting Recovery

23 October 2024

South Western Sydney PHN (SWSPHN) staff including CEO, Dr Keith McDonald PhD, joined stakeholders and community for the official launch of headspace Edmondson Park at Ed Square on Wednesday, 16 October.

The gathering of about 100 people was excited to welcome the opening of the 163^rd headspace.

headspace provides young people aged 12 to 25 and their families and friends with support for their mental health, physical and sexual health, work and study goals, as well as assistance with alcohol and other drugs.

SWSPHN has commissioned Grand Pacific Health as the Lead Agency to operate headspace Edmondson Park. All headspace centres are funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care.

Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Emma McBride (pictured second from left) and Werriwa MP Anne Stanley (pictured second from right) joined the day’s celebration.

In addressing the gathering, Minister McBride acknowledged and thanked those with lived or living experience of mental ill-health for their generous contribution to improving services like headspace and systems of care for people around the country.

She also acknowledged her friend and colleague, Anne Stanley.

“It’s [Anne Stanley’s] advocacy and working alongside the young people of your community and service providers which has made today possible,” she said.

“Our government has invested close to $1.5 million for the establishment of your local headspace in Ed Park and I can’t think of a better location – right across from the train station, very close to local high schools. It’s really convenient and accessible for young people to visit.”

Dr McDonald (pictured back right) congratulated headspace National and Grand Pacific Health on the opening of the centre saying it was a pleasure to be commissioning services like headspace Edmondson Park in such a busy area.

“Location of services like headspace at a central point for the youth of this region is critical to supporting their development, in areas from wellness and social advice, through to issues like mental health, sexual health, alcohol and other drug concerns,” he said.

“South Western Sydney is one of the fastest growing areas in the country, and we know that 21 per cent of the population of Edmondson Park are in the age range for this service. This is a critical service at the right time.”

The gathering also heard from headspace National Clinical Manager, Multicultural Practice, Ali Rahman, Grand Pacific Health, Executive Manager, Primary Health, Jenny Valdivia and Youth Reference Group (YRG) member, Leo (pictured centre), who made a passionate presentation about how headspace had supported him in his recovery from mental ill-health.

“I was once nothing more than a struggling teenager who couldn’t see a future,” Leo told the gathering.

“With the help of headspace, I’ve become a healthy young adult. Having a safe space like headspace is a something that redefined my teenage years and made me become the best version of myself. It has allowed me and others to have a place away from the many pressures of being a young person.”

Leo said young people should have easy access to mental health services because it helped shape the young minds of our future.

“Mental health help is something that makes all the difference,” he said.

“I became a member of the YRG because I wanted to give back to a place that had helped me so much. My hope for our new Edmondson Park location is that we can help as many young people as we can and provide a safe space for those who are struggling.”

The launch also included Raymond’s Smoking Ceremony and Welcome to Country, the official ribbon cutting ceremony, service tours and a barbecue lunch manned by headspace staff.

headspace Edmondson Park is at Shop AG02 Edmondson Square, 52 Soldiers Parade, Edmondson Park.

The site complements other SWSPHN-funded youth specific mental health services in our region including headspace Campbelltown, Liverpool and Bankstown, and ReFrame in the Wollondilly and Wingecarribee Shires.

To access the service, young people can drop into their local headspace centre, or phone to make an appointment, without a doctor’s referral.

Find out more about headspace on SWSPHN’s website.

30 September 2024

October is Mental Health Month, a chance for everyone to come together to focus on mental health, learn about stigma and create safe, caring communities.

Mental Health Month urges us to understand the importance of good mental health in our everyday lives and encourages help-seeking behaviours when needed.

The theme for this year, “Let’s Talk About It,” encourages us to consider our mental health and overall well-being, regardless of our personal experiences with mental illness.

This Mental Health Month, think about ways you can connect with the people around you. Whether it is taking time to care for yourself, caring for someone close to you, supporting your community to be more mental health aware, or being a mental health community ally, making a world free from mental health stigma and more inclusive for people who are going through tough times takes all of us!

In South Western Sydney one in six people have experienced mental ill health in a 12-month period, compared to one in seven people in NSW. One in five people in South Western Sydney report having high or very high psychological distress, a higher rate compared to NSW with one in six people.

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

You can access help with these services:

Visit our website to find out more about our services

24 September 2024

Campbelltown Medicare Mental Health Centre

A tender to establish and deliver the Campbelltown Medicare Mental Health Centre (formerly Head to Health) is now open.

Eligible organisations can express their interest to South Western Sydney Primary Health Network until 17 October.

About Medicare Mental Health Centres

Medicare Mental Health Centres deliver evidence-informed, person-centred, recovery-oriented and cost-effective mental health services, aligned with a stepped care approach, for adults who may be experiencing moderate to high levels of distress or crisis.

Procurement overview

South Western Sydney PHN is inviting expressions of interest from organisations to deliver the Campbelltown Medicare Mental Health Centre from 1 January 2025 (implementation) to 30 June 2026.

People requiring support in the local area, or those attending the site, will recognise Campbelltown Medicare Mental Health Centre as an accessible entry point to the mental health care system for the services and information they need.

Through the Campbelltown Medicare Mental Health Centre people will be able to access, or be connected to, specific mental health and related services they are assessed as needing and will receive immediate advice and care which will reduce their level of mental and emotional distress.

Individuals experiencing high levels of psychological distress or in crisis will receive the care they need from the site, resulting in a reduction in the number of non-urgent presentations to local hospital emergency departments.

Procurement timeline

Activity	Date
Notice of Upcoming Tender	19 September 2024
EOI open	23 September 2024
Information session	1 October 2024 at 1pm
Last queries date	14 October 2024 at 5pm
EOI Closing date	17 October 2024 at 5pm
Evaluation period	18 October 2024 – 7 November 2024
Recommendations to SWSPHN Board and Executives	28 November 2024
Successful applicant notified and contract negotiations commence	December 2024
Contract execution	December 2024
Unsuccessful applicants notified	December 2024
Establishment and Embedding Phase	1 January 2025 – 30 September 2025
Full implementation and service delivery commencement	1 October 2025

Information session

An information session will be held online to assist potential respondents in their submission for the Campbelltown Medicare Mental Health Centre expression of interest.

The session will provide an overview of the tender process and requirements, and is an opportunity to address all questions relating to the tender documentation.

Attendees who have accessed the tender documents within SWSPHN’s Tender Portal before the information session may be in a better position to ask and understand information during the session.

Time: 1pm

Date: Tuesday, 1 October 2024

Submissions accepted via Tenderlink

This expression of interest is on SWSPHN’s Tender Portal – Tenderlink: www.tenderlink.com/swsphn  

Interested parties are encouraged to register for SWSPHN’s Tender Portal to ensure they:  

will receive email notifications when new procurement opportunities are published in relevant categories  
can access the online forum to address any questions about the program and procurement process  
can download and view procurement documentation electronically and  
will be able to submit applications through the e-tender box facility

Tenderlink: Welcome to South Western Sydney PHN E-Tendering (tenderlink.com)

Enquiries

Enquiries regarding this notification can be directed to Rachel Silm, SWSPHN Mental Health and Psychosocial Team Lead, by emailing rachel.silm@swsphn.com.au