Psychosocial Support Program
The Psychosocial Support Program is a recovery-oriented, community based mental health program that provides non-clinical support to people with severe mental ill-health impacted by daily functioning.
Community need
The Psychosocial Support Program addresses several key unmet mental health and psychosocial needs across the region.
Needs addressed by the program include:
- Limited access to mental health services
- The Psychosocial Support Program provides timely, localised, community-based psychosocial support to bridge the gaps.
- Need for non-clinical recovery
People with severe and complex mental health needs require more than clinical treatment. Practical assistance to manage daily living, maintain housing, develop social connections and participate in education and employment is crucial. The program provides recovery-oriented, non-clinical support to improve psychosocial functioning and independence.
Social isolation and reduced community participation
Social isolation, loneliness and limited community connectedness are recognised as important social determinants of health in the region and the program supports across these domains and provides brokerage support to address social determinants of health.
Barriers to accessing and navigating health and social services
Consumers experience difficulty with accessing and coordinating multiple services. HNC is focused on improved service navigation and the program assists participants to connect with clinical care, housing, welfare support, employment and other relevant health and wellbeing support needs.
Reducing pressure on acute mental health services
HNC aims to support reduced presentation to and or reliance on acute mental health services where care and support needs can be met in a primary care or community-based setting, This program provides longer terms support with regular contact and psychosocial support tosupport recovery and remain engaged in the care and support needed to be well in the community.
Our approach
The Psychosocial Support Program uses a person-centred recovery-oriented approach that focuses on individual strengths, goals and aspirations. Participants are actively involved in their support needs and in developing recovery goals. The program promotes empowerment, independence, social inclusion, self-determination, while recognising that recovery is individual and unique.
The program operates within a model that is aligned to the National Commonwealth Psychosocial Support Program model, providing non-clinical services that complement clinical mental health care.
Support is delivered through a combination of individual one on one sessions, group activities, skills development, peer support and community engagement.
Consultation
During 2022 and 2023, Healthy North Coast delivered the Mental Health Reform Project which through a five-stage process, focused on collaboration, participatory design, evidence, best practice, and lived experience to develop service models that respond to identified challenges. The project supported design of the Psychosocial Support Program and is part of a broader initiative to transform the healthcare system to reduce health inequalities and improve health outcomes in the North Coast region.
Key activities
The Psychosocial Support Program helps people with severe and complex mental ill-health to improve their wellbeing, independence and community participation. Key activities under the program includes:
- – Individual recovery planning and goal setting
- – Developing daily living skills such as budgeting, cooking and personal care
- – Building social and community connections
- – Support with dedication and training and employment readiness
- – Assistance with accessing services
- – Support during periods of increased support needs
- – Referral coordination
- – Support with attending appointments
- – Support with NDIS applications and assessment processes
Objectives
The program aims to:
- – Support independent living, by helping people manage day to day activities
- – Improve psychosocial functioning by building skills needed for daily living, self-management and recovery
- – Strengthen social connections by improving relationships with family, friends and the broader community
- – Enhance educational, vocational and training opportunities to support participation in work, study or other activities
- – Connect people with appropriate clinical and non-clinical supports through coordinated referrals and service navigation
- – Reduce reliance on acute and hospital mental health services through access to timely care in community, promoting recovery.