South Eastern NSW PHN, Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District and Southern NSW Local Health District developed a consultation draft Regional Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan. 

South Eastern NSW PHN CEO Dianne Kitcher said this plan was intended to provide a blueprint for collaborative action on mental health service delivery over the next five years. 

“The draft plan has been prepared jointly by a working group comprising senior mental health, planning officials and people with lived experience of mental illness from across the region. It focuses on the ways in which our organisations can work together with consumers, carers and other stakeholders to reduce fragmentation, address shared priorities and establish joined up systems and pathways,” she said.  

The population of South Eastern NSW experiences high levels of psychological distress and has recorded a relatively high number of suicides compared to other NSW regions. 

“More than 102,000 people in our region may experience a mental illness in any one year, and there is an inequitable distribution of services across the region – service availability does not match population needs, particularly in rural areas,” Ms Kitcher said. 

The regional plan identifies nine priority areas against which key actions are identified that involve working together across the health system and with consumers and other stakeholders to provide better integrated care for people with mental illness. 

To view the draft plan go to www.bit.ly/regionalMHplan or submit feedback at www.surveymonkey.com/r/RegionalMHplan.