Today, R U OK? Day puts a spotlight on the importance of providing a safe space for a patient, friend, family member or coworker to speak about their mental health and reducing the stigma of mental illnesses. Asking ‘Are you okay?’ can give a person the opportunity to be seen, heard and understood. The day also focuses on the prevention of suicide and self-harm.
To help spread awareness and make it easier for people to ask the question, R U OK? has developed conversation guides and general resources for everyday use.
Mental Health Services in Western Sydney
We commission several mental health services and programs in Western Sydney for different needs and cultures. The following services aim to provide support for people experiencing suicidal ideations, self-harm and psychological distress.
Primary Mental Health Care Services
Through our Primary Mental Health Care (PMHC) service, we commission psychological services for vulnerable people living in the Western Sydney Primary Health Network region who have a Health Care Card. Clients are eligible for 12 general sessions in a 12-month period. Clients who have been assessed at high risk of suicide can access up to 18 sessions per year.
For more information about how to refer a patient and the list of available service providers, please visit our PMHC webpage.
Safe Space
Stride Mental Health runs Safe Space, offering people aged 16 years and over experiencing psychological distress with timely and responsive support. Trained mental health professionals are there to help within a non-clinical setting. This service is open Wednesday to Saturday, 3pm-9pm in Blacktown. An appointment isn’t required.
For more information, please visit the Stride website.
Early Psychosis Youth Services (EPYS) Program
The EPYS Program is available at the Mount Druitt and Parramatta headspace locations. This early intervention service aims to improve the lives of young people aged 12-25 years and their families living in Western Sydney who are affected by, or at risk of experiencing psychosis.
Read our latest article about the EPYS Program for more information.
Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Mental Health Literacy and Suicide Prevention Program
The NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS) runs the CALD Mental Health Literacy and Suicide Prevention Program. This Program delivers psychoeducation and group lifestyle interventions for each cultural group to help them identify signs of distress and develop appropriate coping strategies and supportive relationships.
For more information, please visit the STARTTS website.
Aboriginal Counselling Services
Culturally sensitive and safe mental health intervention and therapeutic counselling is delivered through Aboriginal Counselling Services to Aboriginal people. This service supports, empowers and assists Aboriginal people with mental health service navigation and dealing with mental health issues such as grief and loss, drug and alcohol, gambling, financial hardship, family violence, sexual abuse, situational crisis and self-harm.
Visit the Aboriginal Counselling Services website for more information.
To see the full list of the mental health programs and services we commission for the Western Sydney community, please visit our Mental Health webpage.
Initial Assessment Referral Decision Support Tool
The Initial Assessment and Referral Decision Support Tool (IAR-DST) is a new resource designed to support health professionals assess or estimate the mental health care needs of their patients within a primary care setting. By using a standardised, evidence-based tool to categorise mental health levels, patients can be connected to the most appropriate local care.
We are running several training sessions for health professionals to help them understand how to use the IAR-DST at the point of care. GPs who attend IAR-DST training are eligible for CPD points from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP). GPs and GP registrars will receive a one-off $300 reimbursement for attending the training.
Please register online to attend a virtual training session. You can also contact our team if you would like to organise face-to-face or whole-of-practice training at iar@wentwest.com.au
Read more about the IAR-DST and training sessions on our website.
Mental Health Resources for Health Professionals
Western Sydney HealthPathways is an online health information platform that provides health professionals with localised, evidence-based and up-to-date information and resources to make informed decisions with their patients at the point of care.
Visit the following pathways to help assess, manage and refer your patients:
- Suicide Risk
- Deliberate Self-harm
- Depression in Adults
- Children and Youth Mental Health
- Mental Health Referrals
If you require the login details, please contact our HealthPathways team at healthpathways@wentwest.com.au
14 September 2023