District Mental Health Services highlight teams from different facilities in October.

This year for Mental Health Month we’re highlighting some of Sydney Local Health District’s Mental Health services. Read more below about three unique teams who show unwavering commitment to the delivery of safe and appropriate mental health care in the community.

Finding Solace: Newtown Safe Haven

Located in the heart of Newtown, Safe Haven provides a unique service designed to support those in crisis or distress. Here, people aren’t patients but guests, who are welcomed into a calm and relaxed environment.

The team comprises both peer support workers (who have lived experience of mental health issues) and clinicians, ensuring a balanced, compassionate approach to care. They aim to create a space where people feel safe to express what they’re going through. 

“Some people come in every day, and that is suicide prevention for them. The ability to connect with someone, have a conversation and a cup of coffee in the morning, sets them up for the rest of the day,” explains Kate Anderson, Senior Peer Support Worker.

Safe Haven is a free service, and no referral is needed to attend. You can check operating hours online and drop in or call ahead to visit the space. Safe Haven is open for anyone in distress.

Supporting Youth: Canterbury Community Adolescent Outreach Service

The Canterbury Community Adolescent Outreach Service provides critical support to adolescents who are struggling with their mental health, particularly those who may fall through the gaps in other services. 

The team is known for being highly mobile, responsive, and flexible, ensuring that young people are seen quickly, kept safe, and engaged with the support they need to avoid hospitalisation. They work closely with other service providers in the District, as well as local schools, ensuring that young people have a safe, caring environment, healthy routines, and the opportunity to enjoy quality adolescent experiences. 

Engaging with families and carers is central to the way the team operates. The team works with cultural sensitivity, often using interpreters to support families with diverse backgrounds.

“The most important part of our approach is flexibility. While we work within our criteria and model of care, knowing how to tailor care to individuals and their support systems is vital to helping the most marginalised families access care,” said Rivka Morley, Team Leader. 

Official referrals to the service can be made through the Mental Health Line. 

Reducing harm and trauma: RPA Emergency Psychiatry Service

The psychiatrist-led team is embedded in the RPA Emergency Department, providing care to people who present with mental health care needs. 

The team is small, but extremely effective. They work with people who have been assessed as being able to benefit from a brief, time-limited psychiatric admission for a mental health problem, with the goal to support people to develop a plan for recovery and care that enables them to leave hospital within 48 hours. 

The team will liaise with everyone who is important to the patient’s well-being including group homes, NDIS providers, police and custodial services, working together to avoid unnecessary admissions which can be further traumatising for the person and their support network.

“We consider all the influences that might impact on a person coming to hospital. Between the team we have experience and qualifications to manage high-risk patients holistically,” said Dr Maryssa Portelli, Staff Specialist Psychiatrist.