Mental health Archives | Page 9 of 22 | South Western Sydney PHN

28 September 2023

Fourteen SWSPHN staff recently completed a Mental Health First Aid training course presented by SWSPHN’s Mental Health and Alcohol and Other Drugs team. Staff who completed the course joined more than one million Australians who have now been trained in Mental Health First Aid.

One in five Australians will experience a mental health problem in any given year. That means every person is likely to know someone who is experiencing a mental health problem, whether that is a family member, a friend or colleague.

The two-day course aimed to provide evidence-based training to equipped people with:

Practical skills and knowledge about the different types of mental illness
Confidence to listen, connect and support someone experiencing mental ill health
Decreasing stigmatising attitudes
Increased awareness of the amount of support and types of support available

SWSPHN staff not only gained theoretical knowledge in understanding mental health and mental ill health but also acquired practical and transferable skills in applying Mental Health First Aid steps. Using case studies, the participants discussed and applied the Mental Health First Aid steps to real life scenarios, customising the five steps to best fit the situation presented.

This training is part of SWSPHN’s ongoing commitment to helping our employees thrive.

Supporting the psychosocial safety and mental wellbeing of our people helps to promote a safe and positive work culture. Developing these skills assists SWSPHN in supporting employee health and wellbeing at work and in all other aspects of life.

Learn more about Mental Health First Aid

25 September 2023

A total of 85 people attended three Local Health Forums held in Warwick Farm, Campbelltown, and Bowral, to better understand mental health service gaps in our region.

The forums, held in August and September, provided community members with the chance to share valuable feedback about the barriers for people accessing mental health services.

The information gathered from the forums will help us to better target funding and services by understanding how people living in South Western Sydney access and engage with mental health services, the support people may need in accessing those services, and how we can improve services and coordination to best meet the needs of our community.

The feedback will also inform the SWSPHN Health Needs Assessment, which explores the priorities, service needs and gaps within the region.

Thank you to all who contributed.

14 September 2023

SWSPHN’s Disaster Management team will be sharing information about the importance of healthcare during a disaster or emergency, at the Wollondilly Emergency Services Expo on Saturday, 23 September.

The event will be held from 10am to 2pm at Victoria Park, Picton.

Representatives from the NSW Rural Fire Service, Fire & Rescue NSW, NSW SES, NSW Ambulance and the NSW Police Force will also attend the expo.

Our Disaster Management team will be holding a stall to provide community members with information about how to best prepare their health for a disaster.

They will also be distributing a flyer highlighting the five simple steps to follow to ensure your health and wellbeing can be prioritised during disaster.

The flyer, which provides practical advice about preparing your health for disaster as well as information about access to services, will also be available at:

Emergency Ready Day, Sunday, 24 September, 11am to 3pm, Koshigaya Park, Campbelltown
Community Links Wellbeing Festival of Fun, Sunday, 26 November, 10am to 2pm, Bargo Sports Ground

During an emergency, PHNs are the first points of contact on primary healthcare coordination and service availability, as part of the overall coordinated health response.

Health outcomes for our community can be greatly improved and enhanced when we prepare and respond to emergencies together.

12 September 2023

The Commonwealth has introduced a new GP Psychiatry Support Line to support GPs to access psychiatrist advice directly.

Local GPs would also be aware SWSPHN commissions Dokotela to deliver Consultant Psychiatry Services across the region.

The two services differ in that the Consultant Psychiatry Service will consult directly with patients (and GPs if the GP wishes), while the support line is for provision of advice to GPs only to support them to treat their patients.

Key differences between the GP Psychiatry Support Line and Consultant Psychiatry Service are explained below.

GP Psychiatry Support Line

The GP Psychiatry Support Line, a free national service linking GPs with qualified psychiatrists, is now available to all GPs across Australia.

GPs can receive instant expert advice regarding the mental healthcare of their patients by calling 1800 161 718 (Monday to Friday, 7am to 7pm – excluding public holidays).

The phone-in service can assist GPs with diagnosis, investigation, medication and a safety plan. It also can advise about treatment options, referral pathways and psychosocial issues.

The GP Psychiatry Support Line aims to keep consumers, whose conditions can be treated in primary healthcare under the care of their GP, by supporting the GP.

Benefits of the service include:

Free phone psychiatry consultation service for GPs providing either specific case advice or general psychiatric inquiries
Typically a 10-minute consultation
Report sent to GP within one business day after consultation
GP capacity building webinars available
Open eligibility

ProCare Mental Health Services has delivered the support line in partnership with 15 PHNs since 2018.

Previously funded within limited areas for limited use, the service is now funded by the Department of Health and Aged Care and can be utilised by all GPs.

GPs must register to access the GP Psychiatry Support Line. It will take two minutes to register online; just make sure you have your AHPRA registration number and practice details on hand.

Find out more about the service by visiting gpsupport.org.au or call 1800 161 718.

Consultant Psychiatry Service

For the past five years, GPs in South Western Sydney have had access to the SWSPHN-funded Consultant Psychiatry Service, delivered by Dokotela, for additional mental health advice and support.

The service has two main objectives:

Provide psychiatry services for those with severe and persistent mental illness who live, study or work in South Western Sydney
Support and advice to GPs to build capacity in managing the long-term mental healthcare of these consumers

Eligible consumers must be over 12 years with a severe and persistent mental illness with history of hospitalisation or at risk.

GPs can refer consumers to the Consultant Psychiatry Service via the SWSPHN Mental Health Referral Form which can be downloaded into practice software or online referral form. Reports are sent to the GP after a consultation though GPs can participate in the appointment with the client, if they wish.

GP capacity-building sessions are also available.

To access more information about the Consultant Psychiatry Service, visit the SWSPHN website.

23 August 2023

SWSPHN is holding three Local Health Forums with community and support workers to better understand the barriers people face to accessing mental health services within South Western Sydney.

Through the forums attendees will help us to better understand how people living in South Western Sydney access and engage with mental health services, the support people may need in accessing those services, and how we can improve services and coordination to best meet the needs of our community.

Local Health Forums are held in the evening, and include a two-course dinner. They are free to attend.

Forum dates:

Warwick Farm: 22 August 2023
Campbelltown: 5 September 2023
Bowral: 13 September 2023

If you would like to attend a Local Health Forum, or to learn more about this initiative visit HealthChat.

HealthChat

An online survey is also available for people who would like to contribute but cannot attend.

Community gather at Local Health Forum at Warwick Farm on Tuesday, 22 August.

11 August 2023

Today (Friday, 11 August) we are opening the Liverpool Head to Health Centre will provide a welcoming and safe space for people seeking mental health and wellbeing support.

Emma McBride, Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention and Assistant Minister for Rural and Regional Health, officially launched the service and welcomed this specialist support for the South Western Sydney community.

Delivered by Neami National and funded by the South Western Sydney PHN, Liverpool Head to Health provides free, walk-in, mental health and wellbeing support without the need for an appointment, referral or Medicare card.

Co-designed with the Liverpool community, including people with a lived and living experience of mental health and wellbeing challenges, the new purpose-built centre is open to people of all ages. The service also provides support for carers and loved ones of people experiencing distress.

Liverpool Head to Health provides:

immediate help to reduce distress  
help to safely cope with thoughts of suicide  
help to navigate through a crisis  
support to improve mental wellbeing  
help to connect with ongoing support

Clinical Service Manager at Neami National James Huynh said: “Liverpool Head to Health offers a unique approach to assisting people with their mental health and wellbeing needs.

“For many people, hospital and clinical settings can be overwhelming when experiencing emotional distress or a mental health crisis. The Liverpool Head to Health centre has been designed to provide a calm, welcoming and inclusive space, where guests are supported throughout their time at the centre by a peer support worker, who has their own lived experience of mental health and wellbeing challenges.”

The Liverpool Head to Health centre includes a team of counsellors, social workers, psychologists, nurses and peer support workers, from diverse cultural backgrounds who speak a number of languages.

A Community Engagement Officer, also works closely with local communities, including culturally diverse communities, to help raise awareness of the supports available at the new service.

Neami National Executive Director Kim Holmes said: “We’re pleased to work together with the South Western Sydney PHN to deliver Liverpool Head to Health.

“The launch of this new service builds on Neami’s experience in delivering Head to Health services in other parts of Australia. Combining our learnings and expertise from our national services, with our understanding of the local community and their needs, we hope to provide meaningful support through Liverpool Head to Health.”

South Western Sydney PHN Chief Executive Officer, Dr Keith McDonald PhD, said South Western Sydney residents experienced higher levels of psychological distress compared to the state average.

“Almost 1,000 individuals accessed the Head to Health pop up services in our region during the last two years,” he said.

“Head to Health centres provide a highly visible and accessible entry point to services for people experiencing psychological distress, where all feel safe and welcomed.

“We look forward to working with Neami National, which has experience and expertise in establishing and operating Head to Health centres, to improve mental health outcomes for our community.”

Liverpool Head to Health is located at 203 Northumberland Street, Liverpool and is open from 1pm to 9.30pm on Mondays and Wednesday to Sunday, and 1pm to 5pm on Tuesdays, including public holidays.

For more information, visit headtohealth.neaminational.org.au

10 August 2023

The ForWhen mental health support line connects new and expecting parents with services which can help them understand what they’re feeling, and provide guidance and support throughout their perinatal journey, from conception up until 12 months old.

You can refer, or your patients can self-refer by calling 1300 242 322 or using the Contact Us page on the ForWhen website.

Download ForWhen Information Guide

07 August 2023

St Vincent de Paul’s Rendu House is a non-residential Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) treatment service offering three programs.

Rendu House’s Before and After Care (Outreach) and Complex Support Needs programs (both commissioned by SWSPHN) complement the Day Program (commissioned by South Western Sydney Local Health District).

GPs or other health or welfare services can refer to the programs or patients can self-refer by calling 4621 5500 or email Rendu.House@vinnies.org.au

The Before and Aftercare Program prepares clients to enter the Rendu House six-week non-residential day program, and provides aftercare for up to 12 months following completion of the day program.

The Complex Support Needs Service provides treatment for people who may have barriers to entering the Rendu House Day Program, including a new initiative to provide individualised psychosocial programs to assist clients to reach their treatment goals.

Rendu House can provide clients with:

psychosocial counselling
case management
educational and support groups for alcohol and other drugs and co-occurring alcohol and other drugs and mental health needs
nursing services for health assessments, medical guidance and support for home-based withdrawal in partnership with GPs
outreach services are available in Liverpool, Fairfield and Warwick Farm

Find out more

07 August 2023

In recognition of Mental Health month this October, SWS Local Health District will be hosting a creative project competition for school-aged children in South Western Sydney.

Students are asked to create an artwork which highlights ones or more of the Five Ways to Wellbeing:

Connect
Be Active
Take Notice
Keep Learning
Give

The winning artwork will be displayed online to promote Mental health month and raise awareness of the Five Ways to Wellbeing.

Entries open Monday, 10 August 2023 and close Monday, 16 October 2023 —Term 4, Week 2

Five Ways Schools Creative Project 2023 – entry information

03 August 2023

Notification of Information (NOI) – Upcoming Tender

Supporting Recovery Pilot Program to provide trauma-informed recovery care for victim-survivors of family, domestic and sexual violence

This notification has been issued to inform the market South Western Sydney Primary Health Network (SWSPHN) will soon commence the procurement process to commission an eligible organisation to deliver Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence (FDSV) trauma-informed mental healthcare services, in particular psychological therapies, within South Western Sydney to support victim-survivors in their longer-term recovery.

Background

On 8 May 2023, SWSPHN was notified of a successful grant submission as part of the Department of Health and Aged Care (DoHAC) Supporting Recovery Pilot Program.

The funding will be provided to pilot a new model of trauma-informed recovery care for victim-survivors of family, domestic and sexual violence.

SWSPHN is commissioning a supplier to deliver FDSV trauma-informed mental healthcare services within our region as part of the pilot program.

Overview of Procurement

SWSPHN is seeking to commission an eligible organisation to establish and deliver the Supporting Recovery Pilot Program. The organisation will deliver psychological therapies, in particular FDSV trauma-informed mental healthcare services, to victim-survivors located within our region.

The supplier will establish and maintain a consortium of key FDSV services within South Western Sydney to ensure an holistic service is delivered in partnership with FDSV victim-survivors, key advocates, advisory groups, and family, domestic and sexual violence service providers.

The service model will align with the DoHAC’s Model of Care, Supporting Recovery Pilot Program. It is a prescribed model which is part of the Australian Government’s National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022–2032.

This procurement is contingent on SWSPHN’s receipt of a funding schedule from the DoHAC.

Tender Release

A Request for Proposal (RFP) will be released the week of 7 August 2023.

Indicative Timeline for this Procurement:

RFP Open	Week of 7 August 2023
Information Session	Week of 21 August 2023
Last queries date	Wednesday 30 August 2023
RFP closing date	Wednesday 6 September 2023 @ 5pm
Evaluation period	September 2023
Recommendation to SWSPHN board	October 2023
Successful applicant notified	October 2023
Commence Contract negotiations	November 2023
Unsuccessful applicants notified	November-December 2023
Contract Commencement	1 December 2023
Phase 1 Establishment	1 December 2023
Phase 2 Full Implementation	1 March 2024

Submissions accepted via Tenderlink

This Request for Proposal will be released 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