Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh encourages local residents to put their hand up for help if they’re struggling, with more mental health support available than ever before.
Mr Singh said ongoing Response and Recovery Specialists will provide mental health counselling, coordination with local services and ongoing support.
“The great thing is that the counsellors are members of our community, so they’re ideally placed to provide local insight, as well as helping individuals and families access further mental health support close to home,” Mr Singh said.
“We know it’s not always easy to seek help, but these counsellors will be able to come to the home, the farm or even the local cafe to encourage anyone doing it tough to take the first step to getting help.”
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said this announcement continues the NSW Government’s significant investment in mental health services, including a record $2.4 billion in last year’s budget.
“We know families and people have been doing it tough, facing drought, bushfires, COVID-19 and now a mice plague, and this package will offer continued mental health support to those in need,” Mr Perrottet said.
“We want to ensure people not only get help at the time of a disaster, but that it’s accessible during the recovery phase so communities can bounce back and people can rebuild lives.”
Minister for Mental Health Bronnie Taylor said the Response and Recovery Specialists would ensure quality services were available at all times.
“When the unprecedented drought and bushfires were crippling our state, these counsellors were there to support communities and now they’re on hand to help those affected by other disasters like the mice plague too,” Mrs Taylor said.
“The best thing about these extra 57 mental health specialists across the state is people don’t need to go to their GP to be referred. They can access them through the mental health line or other local services.”
Response and Recovery Specialists can be contacted in person at selected community events or by calling the NSW Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511.
The $36.4m package for Response and Recovery Specialists will be included in the 2021-22 NSW Budget.
