SWSPHN hosts Local Health Forums twice a year to provide the community with an opportunity to discuss health issues which impact them. Upcoming forums will focus on understanding barriers to accessing mental healthcare services in our region and how we can improve services to accommodate more people in our community.
South Western Sydney residents experience higher levels of psychological distress, with 18.5 per cent of adults self-reporting high, or very high psychological distress, compared to all of NSW reporting 16.9 per cent.
SWSPHN Chief Executive Officer, Dr Keith McDonald PhD, said the forums were key to developing specific solutions and identifying barriers to accessing mental health services for South Western Sydney residents.
“Though there are mental health services available in South Western Sydney, we must address the fact there are barriers in accessing these services,” he said.
“We want to know how we can help improve this to better meet the needs of our community.”
Feedback is invited from those who have experienced mental ill health, local organisations which deliver mental health services, primary carers, and the wider community.
Dr McDonald said the forums reinforce how important it is to hear from and collaborate with the community to improve health services in the region – “thank you to all who have contributed so far”.
The information participants share during these forums will help SWSPHN to identify and understand the mental health needs of the community, identify where existing services can be improved and help develop and implement future activities which will benefit the South Western Sydney community.
A two-course dinner will be provided on the night.
The forum will be held on Tuesday, August 22, 6.30-9pm, at Holiday Inn, Warwick Farm.
Registrations: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/local-health-forum-barriers-to-accessing-mental-health-services-tickets-672832910347
