Consumer peer support worker Tim Heffernan visited the Sapphire Coast Turf Club with members of the NSW Mental Health Commission on June 25 to meet people who had experiences with mental health disorders.  

He discussed peer work, mental health reform and “Living Well: A Strategic Plan for Mental Health in NSW 2014-2024”.

“It’s very encouraging to see how some parts of the community are supportive of people with mental health,” Mr Heffernan said.

“But I see there are still difficulties where other parts of society don’t understand that those with mental health issues can recover - there is still a stigma of unjustified fear. 

“People with mental health problems have a great deal more to offer than they are allowed to offer.” 

A peer support worker for the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District, Mr Heffernan had bipolar 1 mood disorder and had been hospitalised due to his disorder, as well as experienced recovery. 

He said peer work was different from clinical work, as the relationship was based on equality and sharing experiences about your own mental health issues. 

“It’s a more humane way of working in mental health,” Mr Heffernan said.

“People don’t just need medication; they need support, they need to be able to move in isolation and to contribute to society.”

Peer workers aimed to help people regain their place in the community, achieve goals and not be held back by mental health issues.  

“People do recover in the community, not in mental health units,” Mr Heffernan said.

“We want to keep people out of hospitals.” 

Mr Heffernan said the “Living Well” strategic plan looked at mental health as a responsibility for the whole of government, not just the health system, involving such factors as good housing, education and support for families to treat mental health problems. 

There were a lot of issues to do with mental health in Bega, Mr Heffernan said, including access to public transport and housing. 

“If you don’t have adequate housing then you can’t get employment, and that impacts on your recovery,” he said. 

There were limited numbers of peer support workers in Bega, but Mr Heffernan said the strategic plan aimed to increase peer work in all services.

For a person with mental health issues to get a job or have a family, that is a stepping stone on their road to recovery. 

“I think having something meaningful in a person’s life helps them get well,” Mr Heffernan said.