WHEN it comes to getting mental health help or preventing suicide, it’s too ‘shameful’, it’s too hard and it’s too far.
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These are some of the recurring themes in a region-wide assessment of mental health and suicide prevention services, as the deadline nears for people to have their say.
The Hub at Guyra coordinator Chris Hietbrink said services are available, people just need to know where, and how to find them.
“For most small communities the mental health units and services are not located in those communities,” she said.
“In Guyra we’re lucky to have very good doctors who are able to do a mental health assessment and we do have outreach services here.
“I don’t think people are aware of what’s available and they don’t know where to go – and very shy about saying ‘look I need help’.”
Mrs Hietbrink said the Hub houses two family support caseworkers that work out of the building.
“There are also psychologists in town, there is a physiotherapist and often mental health can be related to pain,” she said.
To further improve regional services, Hunter New England and Central Coast Primary Health Network is urging people to contribute to the survey so it can develop the best possible regional mental health and suicide prevention plan.
The Department of Health and Ageing has set a deadline of March 2018 for the plan to be completed, and the PHN hopes is to start developing it in July or August.
Chief executive officer Richard Nankervis said the purpose was “to help us build a profile of the mental health and wellbeing of our community”.
“In particular we are hoping to hear from vulnerable and hard-to-reach groups,” he said.
“We will also use the information to map current care pathways, determine where there are gaps in service and identify barriers preventing access to care.”
Mr Nankervis said 124 people had completed the online survey in the first three days.
“Access to services is a common concern, and barriers to access include cost, transport and knowledge of available services,” he said.
“Stigma about mental illness remains a significant concern and frequently prevents help-seeking.”
The survey can be found online at http://peoplebank.hneccphn.com.au/mental-health