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There’s been a big rise in mental health problems since the coronavirus epidemic struck. Mental health organisations report that calls from desperate people jumped by at least 15 per cent across the country. The worsening problem has now prompted agencies to bolster mental health services in the areas of New South Wales around Canberra, right along the South Coast and up to Yass and Queanbeyan. According to a report just released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, “In the 4 weeks from 31 August to 27 September 2020, “Phone and online support organisations reported substantial increases in demand for their services during the COVID-19 pandemic,’ Dr Adrian Webster from the AIHW said. It’s prompted the Beyond Blue mental health organisation to expand its services in south-eastern New South Wales around Canberra. The NewAccess program which Beyond Blue has developed offers six confidential sessions at no cost to people who feel they need help. Counsellors will give advice on managing stress and coping with problems like anxiety and depression. Beyond Blue said that seven out of ten people who used NewAccess recovered from their symptoms. “NewAccess is designed to help people identify the source of pressure and stress in their lives and provide practical ways they can respond,” Beyond Blue CEO Georgie Harman said. She said it was designed to break down the harmful stigmas associated with mental health. Other mental health organisations are also expanding the help available on the South Coast, not just because of the epidemic but also the bushfires at the beginning of the year. The mental health organisation SANE Australia has set up a special project to support people with “complex mental health issues” there. “There was a lot of feedback to suggest there were gaps in the service,” according to Ariane Forsythe who manages “Life after Bushfires” to offer support with plain advice and counselling but also ways of keeping in contact with other people in a similar situation. If you need help, these organisations provide it:
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There’s been a big rise in mental health problems since the coronavirus epidemic struck.
Mental health organisations report that calls from desperate people jumped by at least 15 per cent across the country.
The worsening problem has now prompted agencies to bolster mental health services in the areas of New South Wales around Canberra, right along the South Coast and up to Yass and Queanbeyan.
According to a report just released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, “In the 4 weeks from 31 August to 27 September 2020,
- almost 83,500 calls were made to Lifeline (a 15.6 per cent increase from the same time in 2019),
- Kids Helpline received more than 32,000 contacts (a 14.3 per cent increase from the same time in 2019)
- and more than 27,500 calls were made to Beyond Blue’s general phone service (a 21.3 per cent increase from the same time in 2019).
“Phone and online support organisations reported substantial increases in demand for their services during the COVID-19 pandemic,’ Dr Adrian Webster from the AIHW said.
It’s prompted the Beyond Blue mental health organisation to expand its services in south-eastern New South Wales around Canberra.
The NewAccess program which Beyond Blue has developed offers six confidential sessions at no cost to people who feel they need help.
Counsellors will give advice on managing stress and coping with problems like anxiety and depression. Beyond Blue said that seven out of ten people who used NewAccess recovered from their symptoms.
“NewAccess is designed to help people identify the source of pressure and stress in their lives and provide practical ways they can respond,” Beyond Blue CEO Georgie Harman said.
She said it was designed to break down the harmful stigmas associated with mental health.
Other mental health organisations are also expanding the help available on the South Coast, not just because of the epidemic but also the bushfires at the beginning of the year.
The mental health organisation SANE Australia has set up a special project to support people with “complex mental health issues” there.
“There was a lot of feedback to suggest there were gaps in the service,” according to Ariane Forsythe who manages “Life after Bushfires” to offer support with plain advice and counselling but also ways of keeping in contact with other people in a similar situation.
If you need help, these organisations provide it:
