People in the eastern region in need of psychosocial support are set to benefit from a new partnership between Eastern Health and EACH.
Funded by the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services, the Early Intervention Psychosocial Support Response program will be rolled out in May 2019.
It will involve a range of community supports with the aim to help people better manage mental illness and to develop recovery strategies. Services will be available individually or in a group, depending on participant needs and choices.
The program is available to mental health consumers in the eastern region and will provide short to medium term specialist psychosocial support services that aim to:
- Build consumer capacity to better manage their mental illness
- Develop practical life skills for independent living and social connectedness
- Achieve healthy, functional lives
It will also support eligible consumers transition to the NDIS.
“We are really excited to be entering a two-year collaboration with EACH, a community service provider in the eastern region, to provide community based psychosocial support to our consumers for up to 12 months,” Lisa Shaw-Stuart, Eastern Health’s Program Director of Mental Health, said.
Consumers of Eastern Health Mental Health program aged 16-64 years at the time of the referral that are not currently assisted by the NDIS and living in the eastern region will be eligible.
“This initiative is great for consumers who would benefit from targeted psychosocial support and assistance with NDIS application,” Ms Shaw-Stuart said.
“This is an exciting opportunity to reinforce the essential mental health community support services in our region to better support our existing consumers to achieve their recovery goals.”
Peter Ruzla, CEO of EACH said strengthening ties between community health services and acute providers is essential to improve outcomes for people experiencing poor mental health.
“Partnering with Eastern Health to provide these services is a wonderful opportunity and we look forward to working closely with Eastern Health to support people to better manage a mental illness and to develop recovery strategies in the eastern region.” Mr Ruzyla said.
