Mental health and suicide prevention remain critical priorities for Western Sydney, with growing demand for support across the region and increasing levels of psychological distress reported in recent years.
WentWest continues to invest in workforce development opportunities that strengthen the skills, confidence and connections of local health professionals so they can support people experiencing mental health concerns with compassion and care.
The Western Sydney Primary Health Network (WSPHN) Needs Assessment 2025–2028 found psychological distress increased slightly from 17.5 per cent in 2021 to 18.0 per cent in 2023, with young adults and women among those most affected. Suicide prevention also remains a key focus, with local communities continuing to be impacted despite Western Sydney’s suicide death rate being lower than the NSW average.
GPs and primary care professionals are often the first point of contact for people experiencing mental health concerns, placing them in a unique position to identify risk, have supportive conversations and connect people with appropriate services and support.
To support this work, WentWest is funding several education and training opportunities for general practice teams and community clinicians.
Connect with Local Mental Health Services
WentWest’s Mental Health and Initial Assessment and Referral (IAR) Training Series provides health professionals with an opportunity to strengthen their understanding of local mental health services and referral pathways.
Participants can visit commissioned services, hear directly from service providers and build practical knowledge of the supports available for people experiencing mental ill health, including those at risk of suicide or self-harm.
Each session includes IAR framework training, opportunities to network with local mental health teams and practical guidance to support more connected care.
Training sessions will run from 6:00pm–8:30pm. Register below:
- 4 August – headspace Mount Druitt (youth focus)
- 2 September – Medicare Mental Health Centre Parramatta (adult focus)
- 9 September – STARTTS Auburn (psychosocial and multicultural focus)
We recommend completing the pre-work before attending to maximise learning during the face-to-face workshop.
Build Confidence in Paediatric Mental Health Care
General practice teams are often among the first professionals’ families turn to when they have concerns about a child’s emotional wellbeing or mental health.
Connecting Mental-health Paediatric Specialists and Community Services (COMPASS) is a free, evidence-informed education and support program designed to strengthen the confidence, knowledge and capability of primary care professionals in identifying, assessing and supporting children experiencing mental health concerns.
The program will help participants:
- build confidence in recognising and responding to child mental health concerns
- develop practical assessment and management skills for everyday consultations
- strengthen collaboration with specialist child mental health services and referral pathways
- enhance communication with children, parents and carers
- improve access to timely, coordinated and person-centred care.
COMPASS is suitable for GPs, nurses and allied health professionals looking to strengthen their approach to child mental health care and improve outcomes for children and families.
View the flyer here. Register your interest here.
For more information, contact: COMPASS_project@unsw.edu.au
Sessions will run between August and December 2026, with the full program to be released shortly.
Strengthen Culturally Responsive Care
Supporting the diverse communities of Western Sydney requires culturally responsive approaches to mental health and suicide prevention.
As part of the Grounded Care initiative, Educaid Australia is delivering a free four-part online masterclass series for frontline and community-facing workers across Western Sydney.
The series will explore practical approaches to supporting culturally and linguistically diverse communities through expert-led sessions covering:
- 30 July – Multicultural Perspectives on Mental Health
- 20 August – Enhancing Trauma-Informed Practice
- 10 September – CALD Perspectives in Suicide Prevention
- 24 September – Engaging Diverse Communities in Suicide Prevention
Register your interest: Grounded Care: Masterclass Webinar Series registration
Participants can attend individual sessions or complete the full series.
Through initiatives such as these, WentWest is helping strengthen the capability of Western Sydney’s primary care workforce, improving connections between services and ensuring people experiencing mental health challenges can access the right support at the right time.
For more training and education events, head to our Events calendar.