SUPPORTING BETTER MENTAL HEALTH
We continued to meet increased demands for mental health support through tailored , stigma-free support services .
Counselling needs increase
We provide short to medium-term counselling and support services for people experiencing depression , anxiety , relationship difficulties , grief , and other issues . Our support is confidential and culturally respectful .
This year we focused on continuing to provide a client-led , person-centred service , providing counselling via telehealth and in-person to make it more accessible to our community . We also provided group sessions based on the local needs .
What did we achieve ?
5,000 hours of support provided
400 + clients supported , with almost 50 % from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
collaborated with our Allied Health team to develop a group program
promoted our ‘ drop in ’ duty service to internal and external partners , including Service Access , Allied Health , the Dental Team , the Maternal Child Health Service , and Coburg Library
hosted the Mental Health Minister to demonstrate program outcomes and advocate for more mental health community health services
Where can we improve ?
increasing demand for mental health support placed strain on our services , evidenced by an increased wait list from time to time during the year and a reduction in community support options that we could refer clients to
continuing to tailor our services will help to ensure that we are inclusive and responsive to community and individual needs
What ’ s next ?
developing consumer feedback and evaluation mechanisms
continuing to promote our duty service to make sure consumers can access support when they need it
exploring options to improving wait times , including offering single sessions or counselling by students on placement
developing stronger relationships with internal and external partners to expand our knowledge base and help to meet increased demand for our services from asylum seekers
60 Health