Healing the Scars: Ground-breaking Mental Health Programs for Refugees
Western Sydney is extremely fortunate to be one of the most multicultural regions in Australia, with many different nationalities calling it home. The 2021 Census indicates that 52.6% of the Western Sydney population was born outside of Australia, much higher than the NSW average of 34.6%. With 1 in 5 people across Australia experiencing a […]
How Peer-Led Community Courses are Reducing Mental Health Stigma
The Western Sydney Recovery College (Recovery College) was developed to build the capacity of people with lived experience of mental health concerns through a series of courses. These courses are co-designed by people with lived experience and aim to assist people on their recovery journey while also increasing the knowledge, skills, and awareness of mental […]
WentWest Stories, PMHC: Yana’s Story
The WentWest Primary Mental Health Care (PMHC) team support GPs, psychologists, Mental Health Teams, Inpatient Units, and school counsellors to triage and process mental health referrals from general practice. Yana* was 21 years old when she was referred to a psychologist under the Suicide Prevention Program. At the time of referral, she was experiencing prominent […]
Children and Adults of All Ages Able to Access Free, Flexible Mental Health Support
7 July 2022 The ground-breaking ‘Head to Health’ service is expanding to offer accessible, mental health support free of red tape and cost to people of all ages. Set up in response to COVID-19, Head to Health provides timely support for those experiencing a mental health challenge amidst pandemic-exacerbated wait times at conventional health facilities. […]
Blacktown Service Saving Lives by Providing a Safe Space Outside of Emergency Departments
23 June 2022 An innovative support service in Western Sydney is helping spearhead a push to provide appropriate care for residents experiencing mental health issues, and in the process avoid unnecessary hospital admissions. Funded by the Western Sydney Primary Health Network (WSPHN), Blacktown’s ‘Safe Space’ initiative has been hailed as a leader in providing the […]
WentWest Stories, STARTTS: Aidah’s Story
The NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS) is a non-profit organisation providing culturally appropriate psychological treatment, support and community interventions. WentWest has commissioned STARTTS since 2015 to implement culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) mental health literacy and suicide prevention programs for refugees, asylum seekers and other diverse […]
WentWest Stories, STARTTS: Atur’s Story
The NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS) is a non-profit organisation supporting refugees, migrants and culturally and linguistically diverse. WentWest has commissioned STARTTS since 2015 to implement culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) mental health literacy and suicide prevention programs for refugees, asylum seekers and other diverse communities […]
WentWest Stories, headfyrst: Ramon’s Story
Salvation Army Youthlink and selected headspace youth mental health centres in Western Sydney are working together to provide the headfyrst program. The collaborative headfyrst project aims to reduce the barriers faced by young people aged 12-25 years in accessing alcohol and other drug (AOD) and mental health services in by providing resources, counselling and support […]
WentWest Stories, Baabayn: Karri’s Story
Baabayn Aboriginal Corporation connects Aboriginal community members to services that help them recover from trauma, reconnect to their community, and build a sense of self-worth and confidence. Baabayn has strong contacts in the community and prides itself on providing a welcoming environment where individuals and families can heal. The organisation runs activities, drop-in support and […]
WentWest Stories: Jayda’s Story
The burden of disease is the measurement used to calculate the impact of living with a particular health concern. Anxiety disorders are the leading cause of the total burden of disease for 15-24-year-old females [1]. The Youth Enhanced Support Service (YESS) is a holistic mental health program for 12-25-year-olds of all genders and cultural backgrounds run […]