Program information
The Mental Health and Drug & Alcohol Office (MHDAO), located in the NSW Department of Health continues to respond to the changing needs of the community through the coordination of its state wide mental health, drug and alcohol programs. At a local level, services and programs are run by Area Health Services, Justice Health, the Children's Hospital Westmead, Non Government Organisations, research institutions and other partner departments.
Mental health programs and services
Housing and Accommodation Support Initiative (HASI)
HASI is an innovative program that ensures stable housing is linked to a range of levels of specialist support for people with a mental illness. HASI is based on a three-way partnership between NSW Health, the Department of Housing and the non-government organisation (NGO) sector. The initiative provides practical assistance, intensive psychosocial rehabilitation, clinical care, and secure housing, along with opportunities, options and hope to people who have a mental illness.
HASI is designed to assist people with mental health problems and disorders requiring accommodation support to:
- Participate in the community;
- Maintain successful tenancies;
- Improve quality of life; and
- Assist in the recovery from mental illness.
Mental Health Promotion, Promotion, Prevention and Early Intervention
NSW is developing a framework for promotion of mental health and wellbeing, prevention of mental illness and mental health problems and intervention early in the development of mental health problems. Promotion, prevention and early intervention in mental health is also incorporated into other strategies relating to community mental health.
My Health Record (MHR)
MHR is a personal health record for consumers. It assists consumers and their families and/or carers to be more informed partners in the management of their illness across multiple care providers. An improved, user-friendly version of MHR has been released by NSW Health.
NSW Family and Carer Mental Health Program
This initiative explicitly recognises the need for families' and carers' participation. Under this program, mental health services facilitate family and carer involvement in consumer assessment, treatment and intervention (where appropriate) and supports family and carer roles in local mechanisms for systemic participation.
The program focuses on the delivery of:
- Family friendly mental health services - supporting and training staff to include explicitly families and carers in the service system and be responsive to their unique needs.
- Mental health family and carer support programs - direct support services delivered through NGOs that provide education and training to build coping skills and resilience, individual support and advocacy, infrastructure support for peer support groups.
- Improved access to generic family and carer supports.
For more information on the NSW Family and Carer Mental Health Program, click here.
NSW Health Patient Survey Analysis
MHDAO recognises that improvement in safety and quality in public mental health services is dependant upon input from those who use these services. Accordingly, part of its work focuses on analysis of the data from the NSW Health Patient Survey. This Survey has been developed to gain information from patients and carers across NSW about their experiences with health care services. Two mental health categories will be included in the NSW Health patient survey from 2010 onwards.
Programs and Initiatives for Children, Adolescents and Families
NSW Health via MH-Kids, the policy and planning unit for child and adolescent mental health in NSW, is responsible for the following programs and initiatives:
- NSW Children of Parents with a mental illness (COPMI) program
- Parenting Program for Mental health
- Safe Start
- School-Link
Recovery and Resource Services Program (RRSP)
The RRSP is designed to increase the capacity of NGOs to provide support and access to quality mainstream community social, leisure and recreation opportunities and vocational and educational services for people with a mental illness, based on the best available evidence and practices. It is an integral part of the continuum of care provided by Area Mental Health Services (AMHS).
Specialist Mental Health Services For Older People (SMHSOP)
Each Area Mental Health Service in NSW has a Specialist Mental Health Services for Older People (SMHSOP) clinical service component comprising staff that have the specialist clinical knowledge and skills to manage the complex mental health issues presenting in older people across a range of service settings. These specialist services are delivered by old age psychiatrists, specialist psycho-geriatric nurses and allied health professionals such as psychologists, occupational therapists and social workers with expertise in mental health problems affecting older people.
SMHSOP services include the following service types:
- Specialist community-based services;
- Acute inpatient services;
- Non-acute inpatient services;
- Residential or long-term care services, which may be delivered through partnerships with aged care providers, and
- Specialist staff and programs for people with moderate-severe, persistent behavioural and psychological symptoms associated with dementia and/or mental illness.
A program of service development is underway to expand the range and capacity of SMHSOP services in each Area Health Service.
SMHSOP clinical functions include:
- Specialist clinical assessment and treatment;
- Consultation/liaison with other key services and health care providers;
- Capacity building with other key services;
- Joint care planning and case management with general practitioners (GPs) and other health care providers, and
- Mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention programs.
Suicide Prevention
MHDAO is looking at ways to support NSW Area Health staff to enhance their capacity to detect, assess and effectively manage people with possible suicidal behaviour and to encourage system performance improvements to promote patient safety and quality of care. This work currently involves the review and revision of the NSW Health Policy Directive Management of Patients with Possible Suicidal Behaviour. Implementation of the Framework for Suicide Risk Assessment and Management for NSW Health Staff and Guidelines are also being reviewed, which will look at both the roll out of the Guidelines as well as the uptake of the training provided through the electronic training package.
Youth Mental Health Services
The Youth Mental Health Services Model has been developed to meet the needs of young people aged 14 to 24 years by increasing early access to mental health services. In line with the NSW Community Mental Health Strategy 2007-2012, the Youth Mental Health Services Model promotes enhancing awareness of mental health across the community, stakeholder groups and service networks.
The focus of the model is on early intervention and prevention with flexible approaches to service provision, and access as early as possible to a range of health services relevant to young people. These services will provide evidence-based intervention at the early stages of mental illness. They will bring together specialist youth mental health services, general practitioners, drug and alcohol workers and other relevant services.
Through a pilot program, the Central Coast Young People's Mental Health Service has developed a prototype Youth Mental Health Services Model in Gosford, called ycentral and a set of agreed principles for development of youth mental health services across NSW.
Early Psychosis Program
Early psychosis services have been established in metropolitan Area Health Services and increasingly in rural NSW. Evidence shows that preventing and intervening early for young people who are developing psychosis can dramatically improve outcomes. Early intervention can lessen disability and disruption to school or work for the young person, lower the risk of relapse, and reduce family disruption and distress.
Vocational Education, Training and Employment (MH-VETE) Program
The Mental Health Vocational Education Training Employment (MH-VETE) program is designed to work with consumers and services to ensure there is a coordinated pathway and targeted plan to address consumer education and employment needs.
Drug and Alcohol Programs and Services Coordinated by MHDAO
Adult Drug Court
The Adult Drug Court is a specialised court, operating under the Drug Court Act 1999 with the aim of breaking the cycle of drug dependency, criminal activity and imprisonment. The Court targets drug-dependent adult offenders who are facing a custodial sentence and offers the option of drug treatment while on parole or probation.
The system works with close cooperation between the Department of Health, Justice Health, two Area Health Services and a range of Non-Government Organisations which assist in providing drug treatment including residential rehab.
Cannabis Clinics
Dedicated cannabis clinics are located at Parramatta, the Central Coast, Bathurst/Orange, Sutherland and the North Coast. The clinics have been set up to stand apart from the mainstream drug and alcohol treatment services and provide intensive clinical interventions and treatment to dependent cannabis users with complex needs, including clients with mental health issues.
Further aims of the clinics are to reduce the health, social and legal problems and risk of harm associated with cannabis use, and to assist people using cannabis who want to become abstinent.
Child Safety
In response to the NSW Ombudsman's Report, MHDAO are currently implementing a number of policies, protocols and programs that address the needs of children who have parents with drug and alcohol issues.
MHDAO recently conducted a child safety campaign targeted at individuals on the Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) who have children in their care. A wallet sized leaflet was developed by the Department of Health and Department of Community Services and aims to reduce the risk of methadone poisoning in children by educating those with children in their care on the dangers of child ingestion of methadone, correct methadone storage methods and safe settling and sleeping techniques for young babies.
Community Drug Action
Community Drug Action Teams (CDATs) are community groups supported by the Government to increase and improve general community awareness about drugs and to help communities develop their own responses to local drug problems. These projects are practical and creative, reflecting the different needs and culture of the communities for which they were developed.
The 'Community drug action' section of communitybuilders.nsw provides information resources and support for Community Drug Action Teams to undertake their work and showcase projects.
Co-Exist (Multicultural State wide co-morbidity referral program)
Co-Exist is a multicultural comorbidity service for people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities. The service caters for clients with chronic illness, mental illness, drug and alcohol-related issues, gambling problems and overuse of prescribed medications.
Contact details:
- Intake officer: 02 9840 3767
- Toll Free 1800 648 911
- Web www.dhi.gov.au/coexist
Consultation-Liaison (CL)
Consultation-Liaison is designed to ensure that medical and nursing staff can obtain appropriate advice when they encounter patients who have problems arising from misuse of drugs and alcohol.
CL services have been operating in the Greater Southern and the Greater Western Area Health Services since 2006/07. Three additional services are now being funded to trial and evaluate CL. These services will operate in Sydney South West, Hunter/New England and the Children's Hospital. These services will be subjected to independent evaluation of their administration, outcome and costs.
Drug and Alcohol Non Government Organisation Project
The non-government sector is a significant provider of drug and alcohol services in NSW. NGOs provide a variety of services including: counselling, outreach, co-morbidity services, education, group and family support and life skills training. Residential rehabilitation services in NSW are predominantly provided by NGOs and range from large therapeutic community style programs to short stay residential rehabilitation services.
Drug info @ your library
Drug info @ your library provides up to date information about alcohol and drugs through local public libraries in New South Wales. It is a joint initiative between NSW Health and the State Library of NSW.
Web resources and public library collections are selected and regularly updated by specialist staff at the State Library of New South Wales in consultation with experts in the field.
MERIT
The MERIT program is a court based diversion program that allows arrested defendants with illicit drug use problems to be assessed for suitability to undertake treatment and rehabilitation under bail conditions. As a result of that assessment, Magistrates can bail defendants to attend dedicated drug treatment services created through specific MERIT program funding.
As of 2008, MERIT is now available in 61 local courts across all eight Area Health Services.
To date, over 11,000 adult offenders have entered the program since 2000, and over 6,100 have successfully graduated from the program.
Opioid Treatment Program (OTP)
The NSW Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) seeks to reduce the social, economic and health harms associated with opioid use. The OTP delivers pharmacotherapy and associated services to opioid dependent patients in NSW through the public sector (including Justice Health), and private sector (private clinics, general practitioners, psychiatrists and pharmacies). There are currently 3 types of opioid treatment pharmacotherapy available in NSW: methadone, buprenorphine and buprenorphine-naloxone.
Play Now Act Now (PNAN)
Play Now Act Now is a major initiative arising from the Youth Alcohol Action Plan 2001-2005, NSW Summit on Alcohol Abuse 2003, and the NSW State Plan. The project is a creative arts competition for young people aged 16 to 25 years. It is an opportunity for young people to explore and create messages relating to the impact of alcohol and other drug misuse on themselves and on those around them.
Play Now Act Now presents a unique opportunity for young people to engage in cultural and informative activities relating to the use of alcohol and other drugs. The competition categories include a range of creative mediums such as video/film, graphics and creative writing. Entries are judged according to artistic merit, knowledge, insight and critique of the alcohol and other drug issues addressed.
All shortlisted entries are compiled into a DVD which is disseminated, along with a structured learners guide, to youth services, drug and alcohol services, community health centres and juvenile justice services across the State.
Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) Prescribers Update Newsletter
MHDAO publishes a quarterly newsletter which is distributed to OTP prescribers, clinic staff and other key stakeholders.
Stimulant Treatment Clinics
NSW Health funds a stimulant treatment program on a trial basis at two clinics. One clinic is located at the Wesley Mission in Newcastle West and the other is at St Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst.
The clinics provide a range of services to stimulant users within a stepped care framework to match the special needs of each patient. An evaluation is being conducted, based on extensive interviews before, during and after the treatment.
The clinics operate from 8am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday. Contact phone numbers for both clinics are: (02) 9361 8088 (metro) 1800 101 188 (regional/rural)
Youth Drug Court
The Youth Drug Court is a trial program that operates within the NSW Children's Court system. The program provides young offenders with drug and/or alcohol problems with case management and drug treatment services while under judicial supervision.
Sentencing is deferred while the young person participates in the program, which can last up to 12 months.
The program is only available to residents of Western Sydney, with regular court sittings at Cobham and Campbelltown Children's Court.