{"id":13657,"date":"2021-11-02T01:21:37","date_gmt":"2021-11-02T01:21:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/?p=13657"},"modified":"2021-11-02T01:21:37","modified_gmt":"2021-11-02T01:21:37","slug":"two-new-innovative-support-services-bring-mental-health-support-closer-to-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/2021\/11\/02\/two-new-innovative-support-services-bring-mental-health-support-closer-to-home\/","title":{"rendered":"Two new innovative support services bring mental health support closer to home"},"content":{"rendered":"

People experiencing emotional distress will now be able to access support in two novel ways, thanks to a $46 million investment in new suicide prevention initiatives across NSW.
\nMinister for Mental Health Bronnie Taylor said that 20 calming non-clinical hubs called Safe Havens and 20 Suicide Prevention Outreach Teams (SPOTs) will add to the web of support the NSW Government has already embedded in communities across NSW.
\n\u201cWe know suicide prevention support needs to engage distressed people where they live their lives \u2013 if we can be there to provide support before someone needs to be hospitalised, we can help reduce the likelihood of further suicidal behaviours,\u201d Mrs Taylor said.
\n\u201cInstead of struggling alone or heading to a bustling emergency department, anyone who is experiencing mental health distress can now head to one of these purpose-designed Safe Havens.
\n\u201cThere are no appointments or referrals needed, so whether you need some peace and quiet, a chat with someone who understands what you\u2019re going through, or some calming activities to reduce the intensity of your negative thoughts and feelings, you can walk right in.\u201d
\nSouth Western Sydney Local Health District Mental Health Director Dr Claire Jones said the free and confidential service is a place where people can informally chat to trained staff, have a cup of tea or coffee, play board games or puzzles, join an activity or chill out in a quiet spot.
\n\u201cOur Safe Haven provides a different type of support for people who are experiencing suicidal thoughts. The Peer Support Team have had their own personal lived experience of suicidal distress and they can help people by linking them to the services and support programs that can assist them.\u2019\u2019
\nDistrict Chief Executive Amanda Larkin said Campbelltown Safe Haven features a quiet room and sensory items, including a massage chair and weighted blankets to help people relax.
\n\u201cThe Safe Haven is a friendly and compassionate place where everyone is welcome,\u2019\u2019 Ms Larkin said.
\n\u201cAll of the staff members understand first-hand how hard it can be to experience suicidal thoughts. They come from all ages, cultures and backgrounds including people who identify as LGBTIQA+.\u201d
\nIn addition to the new Safe Havens, 20 new mobile SPOT\u00a0teams will provide rapid outreach to people in suicidal distress in the community, with 14 teams already up and running.
\n\u201cThe new teams combine clinical expertise and lived experience of suicide, and care for people at or near their homes \u2013 ensuring they stay connected with their family, friends and other valuable support networks,\u201d Mrs Taylor said.
\n\u201cWe know thoughts of suicide can be triggered by a painful experience – such as a divorce, unemployment, retirement or death of a loved one – and these mobile teams will support individuals in the places where they live their day to day lives.\u201d
\nThe NSW Government has invested $25.1 million in the Safe Haven initiative and $21.35 million in the Suicide Prevention Outreach Teams, which both contribute to the Towards Zero Suicides – a Premier\u2019s Priority.
\nIf you, or someone you know, is thinking about suicide or experiencing a personal crisis or distress, please seek help immediately by calling\u00a0000<\/strong>\u00a0or one of these services:
\nLifeline\u00a013 11 14<\/strong>
\nSuicide Call Back Service\u00a01300 659 467<\/strong>
\nNSW Mental Health Line\u00a01800 011 511<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

People experiencing emotional distress will now be able to access support in two novel ways, thanks to a $46 million investment in new suicide prevention initiatives across NSW. Minister for Mental Health Bronnie Taylor said that 20 calming non-clinical hubs called Safe Havens and 20 Suicide Prevention Outreach Teams (SPOTs) will add to the web … Continue reading “Two new innovative support services bring mental health support closer to home”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13657","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-nswnews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13657","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13657"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13657\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13657"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13657"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13657"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}