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‘Unprecedented demand’: Psych service for city’s vulnerable in funding crisis
By Mary Ward
A psychology service for the city and eastern suburbs’ most vulnerable says it was forced to shut its books to non-suicidal teenagers and adults after a doubling of demand in the state’s mental health crisis.
Local doctors were informed last month that Central and Eastern Sydney Public Health Network’s Psychological Support Service (PSS) would only be available to children under 12 and people requiring suicide prevention services until July 1.
A mental health service for the vulnerable in central Sydney and the city’s east has restricted referrals.Credit: iStock
“There has been a significant increase in demand for our PSS program this year, with clients accessing more than double the number of sessions than in previous years and funding available for this financial year has been depleted earlier than modelling predicted,” the network said in a statement.
Funded by the federal government, PSS provides free access to short-term psychological therapy for people experiencing mild to moderate mental health concerns who are unable to access Medicare-subsidised psychology due to financial hardship.
People accessing the service must have an individual income of less than $55,000 or family income of below $130,000.
In an email sent to GPs at the end of March, the public health network said it would no longer be able to accept referrals to the program for anyone other than children under the age of 12 or people needing suicide prevention services due to “unprecedented demand”.
“Challenges we have experienced in meeting demand this year will continue. We will be adjusting our service model to take this into account.”
Public Health Network’s Psychological Support Service
The email said there were 1900 people currently using the service, and recommended GPs refer patients to other services, such as headspace, or “evidence-based online programs” for the next three months.
Central and Eastern Sydney Public Health Network manages primary health services across the eastern suburbs, central and southern Sydney, the inner west and Sutherland.
The network said in its statement it would have additional capacity in July when annual funding reset.
“However it is likely that some of the challenges we have experienced in meeting demand this year will continue. We will be adjusting our service model to take this into account,” it said.
The network said in response to the recent tragedy at Bondi Junction Westfield it was directing those affected to its Head to Health phone line service (1800 595 212).
“We are working with the federal Department of Health and Aged Care on options to provide some surge capacity across our mental health services to meet community needs,” it said.
In a statement, the department said it was working closely with the public health network and NSW Health to ensure people could access mental health support in the aftermath of recent events.
“The Australian government is in the process of providing additional funding to the local Central Eastern Sydney [public health network] so residents can receive mental health support, following the tragic incident in Bondi,” they said, adding it was also in contact with service providers, such as Lifeline and Beyond Blue, to monitor demand.
Last month, the NSW Mental Health Alliance, a group that includes the peak bodies representing psychiatrists and carers, raised the alarm about chronic underfunding, calling for NSW to follow Victoria and Queensland and introduce a payroll tax levy to fund services.
“Across the state, we are seeing mental health services stretched to their limits, the mental health workforce is burnt out, and people who need help are falling through the cracks,” Professor Samuel Harvey, executive director of the Black Dog Institute, warned.
In response to the alliance’s pre-budget submission, NSW Mental Health Minister Rose Jackson said analyses of gaps in the sector would occur this year, including a short-term “gaps analysis” due to be finalised soon.
If you or anyone you know needs help, call SANE on 1800 187 263 (and see sane.org), Lifeline on 13 11 14 (and see lifeline.org.au) or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 (and see beyondblue.org.au).
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