A permanent Head to Health centre will be established this year to provide mental health support in South Western Sydney.
Neami National has been funded by the South Western Sydney Primary Health Network (SWSPHN) to establish the centre in the Liverpool CBD by mid year.
The service will provide short-to-medium term support for people experiencing moderate or heightened mental health problems.
SWSPHN chief executive officer Keith McDonald says a permanent adult mental health centre in the heart of Liverpool was a welcome support for local people experiencing mental health problems.
“The permanent centre will continue to complement the Head to Health intake and assessment phone service,” he said.
“The Head to Health service provides a welcoming, low stigma entry point to engagement, assessment and treatment of people who may be experiencing moderate to elevated levels of distress or crisis.
“It is designed to work alongside mental health services already provided within South Western Sydney.”
The Liverpool centre will replace the current Head to Health pop up hubs set up in Liverpool and Bankstown in September 2021 as an interim measure to support access to mental health services during the pandemic.
“Working in partnership and building strong relationships with both community and clinical services and the community helps to ensure all Head to Health guests are provided with the right care for their individual needs,” says Neami National chief executive officer Tom Dalton.
Local demand for mental health services is increasing and in the last six months of 2022 alone, the SWSPHN Mental Health central intake service processed 5,391 referrals to primary mental health services, a 35 percent increase from the same period in 2021.
People looking for mental health support right now can call the Australia-wide Head to Health intake and assessment phone line on 1800 595 212 to be linked with their nearest physical service, or other mental health services specific to their individual needs and location.
