SWAN Hill District Health adopts a “no wrong door approach” when it comes to providing mental health support.
That’s the message from counselling department manager and psychologist Jann Barkman, who acknowledged there was a “huge need” in the community.
“So anybody can ring and we will try to give support options,” Ms Barkman said.
“We encourage people to access the GP but if they are really concerned to access SHDH emergency department.”
While Ms Barkman admitted there were “limited resources”, she said there were still a range of services available.
The generalist service provides counselling to those over 25 years-old, while the local headspace service assists those between 12 and 25 years-old, she said.
The counselling service can assist with issues related to relationships and family, grief and loss, stress and anxiety and mild and moderate depression.
Services also exist for psychological first aid for trauma management, smoking cessation, family violence support, NSP needle exchange, alcohol and other drug counselling and medication-assisted treatment for opioid dependence.
An interpreter service is available, and the department’s free and confidential service can also be accessed through a self-referral, a GP or mental health nurse referral or through an Australian Community Support Organisation referral.
The service is located at 13 Pritchard Street, Swan Hill from 8.30am to 5pm from Monday to Friday.
The team can be contacted by email at CReception2@shdh.org.au or by telephone on 5033 9880.
