Dr Simon Lockwood
Mental Health Month has been a time to reflect about our own mental health and the impact that we are having as an organisation on the lives of country South Australians.
As a society we are increasingly aware of the importance of recognising mental health. One in five Australians are affected by their mental health annually. The impact of COVID-19 has had a major and immeasurable impact on our mental health as a community, but the stories of resilience and connection in country South Australia are inspiring and remind us of the power of our collective efforts.
October 10 was World Mental Health Day which focused on ‘awareness, belonging and connection.’ This focus stresses the importance of being connected to our family, friends, or communities and to having a sense of belonging. We also need to be aware of how we are feeling and when to reach out for support. This is particularly important in rural locations where community connection is such a crucial part of our lives.
On October 19 the Australian Bureau of Statistics released the 2021 cause of death statistics. Behind these statistics suicide continues to impact and represent heartbreaking loss for our communities. While every death by suicide is one too many these recent statistics showed a reduction for the rate of suicide in country South Australia with a decrease in the age standardised rate to 13.5 per 100,000 from 17.5 per 100,000 in 2019.
Country SA PHN was one of the 12 National Suicide Prevention Trial sites – bringing significant resources, activity, and funding to areas of need through the country north region of South Australia including Whyalla, Port Augusta, Port Pirie, Port Lincoln, and the Yorke Peninsula. Chez Curnow, Senior Manager – Commissioning, has had an active role in managing our suicide prevention work. I am now pleased to announce that Chez has been appointed to Australia’s first legislated Suicide Prevention Council the South Australian State Group on suicide prevention to reduce suicide rates in South Australia.
The Council will be launching South Australia’s first Suicide Prevention Plan which will establish a framework to deliver a coordinated and targeted suicide prevention response across government and community. Other key objectives include improving engagement and early intervention for individuals and families, providing more training and education to the public and workers, and increasing access to suicide prevention, treatment, and crisis intervention.
I would like to congratulate Chez on this significant appointment. Chez’s membership on the Suicide Prevention Council supports and brings strategic alignment and benefit to our initiatives as we continue our role in suicide prevention in country South Australia. Congratulations once again Chez.
Country SA PHN commissions many important mental health activities across country South Australia. These initiatives take many different forms and assist people in a diverse range of ways - from funding large macro services right through to grants for community-based capacity building. Our overall objective in these programs is ensuring that when someone reaches out for support, we can provide the right service type and level of intensity, when it’s needed and where possible close to their home. We know people living in rural and remote locations have better health outcomes when they access timely supports within proximity to their home.
The Department of Health and Aged Care is focusing on creating a community connection of safe spaces with a breadth of no barrier drop in access to mental health centres. This approach is well exemplified by the first Connect Centre in South Australia located in Clare. The centre provides an early intervention model for suicide prevention, offering a one-stop friendly and accessible space. Provided by Lifeline Broken Hill Country to Coast, the centre aims to improve social, emotional, and psychological well-being by supporting people to connect with local services and community organisations and assisting with practical tasks.
The centre has trained counsellors available to provide free counselling sessions with no requirement for a referral or mental health treatment plan, walk-ins are very welcome. With high demand and long waiting times the centre’s ease of access and in-person, on the spot assistance are a key advantage. The counsellors can also help people to find appropriate support – helping them to navigate this process while minimising the trauma associated with having to re-tell their story numerous times.
Lifeline has a team of trained volunteers who are passionate about supporting anyone experiencing difficulties or crisis.
Connect Centre volunteer Dwayne Menzies said face to face assistance for mental health support could make all the difference.
“It’s a service that I didn’t have when I was struggling, it’s a neutral place where you can find support,” he said.
“We try to break the ice with a person because that first step can be hard to take.”
Focusing on connecting, engaging, and informing our communities Country SA PHN commissioned ROARA to create and deliver a digital campaign to assist in reducing the number of men who die by suicide and decrease the number of men who attempt suicide, while improving men’s confidence to seek help when needed. The We Are Men campaign uses the most powerful and ancient tool of storytelling to destigmatise men’s mental health. This campaign was incredibly successful with engagement far exceeding expectation.
Local Health Cluster grants have also led to a diverse range of positive initiatives that broaden potential for capacity building to extend from regional centres. Mentally Fit EP works to empower people to take charge of their lives and build a mentally fit, connected community on the Eyre Peninsula. This focus on a preventative approach by building community connectiveness, to promote mental wellbeing is being championed by West Coast Youth and Community Support through the 'Mentally Fit EP' program. It promotes self-development and strengthens communities to reconnect and support each other. Mentally Fit EP successfully applied through the Lower Eyre Local Health Cluster to hold a second Three Cs (Connectivity, Connection, Collaboration) Conference this year - focusing on highlighting the empowerment that exists in their own communities.
Our young people are also considered and supported by the funding and continual expansion of the country South Australian headspace network which now sees eight headspace sites providing youth mental health supports throughout country South Australia.
We are now commissioning a provider to operate and deliver services for a Head to Health adult mental health site in Mount Gambier and we’re looking forward to announcing the successful applicant. A second Head to Health site is planned for Mt Barker. These Adult Head to Health sites are designed to provide a welcoming, low stigma, soft entry point to engagement, assessment and treatment for people who may be experiencing moderate to high levels of distress or crisis, including people with conditions too complex for many current primary care services, but who are not eligible for, or who need more timely care than that available through public mental health services.
Head to Health also offers immediate, short, and medium-term episodes of care and service navigation to connect people to ongoing services. It assists adults seeking help in times of crisis, or as needs emerge, to have access to on-the-spot care, advice and support provided by mental health professionals – without needing a prior appointment or GP referral.
The Head to Health sites will be supported by our Head to Health phone service (1800 595 212). This provides a conversation with the caller to determine the level of help they need and connect them to the most appropriate service - making it easier for people in country South Australia to access the supports they need.
It was a pleasure to be a part of the Country SA PHN Board and Executive visit to Port Lincoln at the end of September. We had an engaging dinner with key stakeholders in the region – including general practitioners from the Investigator Clinic, Bayview Medical Service, Lincoln Medical Centre and Boston Bay Family Health Practice, Port Lincoln Aboriginal Health Service, the CEO of the City of Port Lincoln, and the Mayor and CEO of the district council of Kimba. It was great to be able to meet face to face after such a long COVID-19 induced hiatus. I look forward to continuing our engagement with valued stakeholders right across country South Australia.
