Community encouraged to use free mental health, wellbeing support

A COMMUNITY event seeking to inform local residents about a free mental health and social connection service operating in the region was held in Queenscliff on Wednesday last week.

The event was hosted by Greater Geelong – Queenscliffe Mental Health and Wellbeing Local (GGQ Local) – a consortium of healthcare providers comprising Barwon Health, ermha365, Wellways and the Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative.

The service, which has just relocated to Barwon Health’s new mental health hub at 181 Moorabool Street, aims to provide community members experiencing mental health and wellbeing concerns with a safe and easy way to receive treatment, care and support.

GGQ Local representative Erica Thompson said similar programs had been implemented in communities across the state to prevent “people falling through the gaps” following the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System.

“Our primary objective is to assist the people that are in the missing middle.

“That missing middle are people that need more support from their GP than the GP’s able to give them and less support than the tertiary system is designed to give.

“It may simply be that this might be someone’s first experience of depression or anxiety, or that they’re feeling a little lost.”

To reduce service access barriers and encourage people to reach out, no referral, mental health plan or Medicare care is required to the engage with the GGQ Local team.

“We act as a front door to that mental health support for people,” Ms Thompson said.

“If you’re over 26 and you feel like you need some support for your wellbeing and your mental health, then you can walk through the door.

“You can give us a call, send us an e-mail and we’re there without waiting lists, at this point in time, to support you.”

In recognition of the loneliness and isolation endemic in the community, GGQ Local also launched a Local Connections program last year, which links residents with a support worker who can assist them to bolster their social connections.

At present, the service is assisting 25 active clients.

“Twenty-six per cent of us feel lonely or isolated at any one time and that in itself gives poor outcomes for mental health and drug and alcohol [use],” Ms Thompson said.

“There’s a recognition now that being lonely in and of itself is a health risk and actually can be equated to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

“So, for somebody who’s disconnected from family, it may mean [asking] ‘How do we reconnect you with family?’ What’s the possibilities here?

“Do we just need to teach you how to do a video call? Is it having that conversation about how you might reach out? Is it joining with a local group of some kind? Is it just getting to know your local community?”

For more information, or to book an appointment with the team at GGQ Local, phone 1800 573 151.