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THURSDAY, 6 APRIL 2023
HEALTH & EDUCATION
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Mental health services expanded on the Coast A redesign of primary mental health care services combined with an increase in funding will deliver an additional 500 funded therapy sessions for people living in the Central Coast region over the next two years. Facilitated by the Hunter New England Central Coast Primary Health Network (PHN), the additional services will cover face-to-face and telehealth sessions for children, First Nations people, those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and lowincome earners. CEO of the PHN Richard Nankervis said changes to the allocation of mental health sessions focussed on health needs, equitable access and the introduction or availability of other mental health services tailored to specific cohorts while offering a stepped model of care targeting individual needs. Manager of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Leah Morgan said the PHN recognised there was a spectrum of needs within the region and consequently there must also be a spectrum of services. “The changes we’ve made to
The team at Head to Health at Tuggerah
the service provision means individuals will be more likely to receive a service which meets their needs while also making the best use of workforce and technology,” she said. “In addition to the patient services offered through the PHN, GPs can continue to access the GP psychiatry
support line for advice on the management of their patients.” Mental health services funded by the PHN that will be available across the region from July 1 include Mental Health Services for Vulnerable People which expands the scope of the program currently known as Psychological Therapies and gives priority to
people experiencing financial hardship and having difficulty/ barriers in accessing mental health treatment in the primary care sector. The PHN’s Head to Health service provides free and immediate support from trained professionals who work with a person on a short to medium term basis to find the
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best services to meet their needs. People can visit the Head to Health service at either Tuggerah, Warners Bay or Cessnock or phone 1800 595 212 between 8.30am and 5pm to receive assistance. No appointment,referral,Medicare card, or Australian citizenship is needed.
The Telepsychiatry Service aims to increase access to psychiatry services for people aged 16 or more with severe and persistent mental illness. The target groups include women with perinatal depression, First Nations people, people living in rural and remote areas, people on low income, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and people with a recent suicide attempt or suicidal behaviour/ ideation. The PHN has recently commissioned a new children’s mental health service with the aim of increasing access for vulnerable children up to the age of 12. Also, there is Wellbeing4Kids, a free program supporting families to raise happier, healthier children whereby a specialist child mental health team provides assessments and counselling for emotional, social and behavioural challenges. There is also grief and bereavement counselling for children aged from three through to 17. Sue Murray