Mental Health Service Consumer Participation Service - North Shore Ryde

The Lower North Shore Mental Health Service Consumer Participation Service (CPS) provides:

• Education and information to help consumers make informed decisions, particularly information on consumer rights and responsibilities, mental health organisations and support available in the community, mental health service navigation and  general information on matters that may impact on the consumer experience of Mental Health Services.

• Peer support for consumers.

• Assistance and support for consumers to act on their own behalf.

• Individual consumer advocacy.

• Consumer peer support, information and advocacy for people living in the Mental Health Service supported accommodation homes.

• Phone based peer support for consumers following discharge from the inpatient service.

• Social inclusion activities, including facilitating these and referral to community activities and programs.

• Group programs to support recovery and rehabilitation, such as healthy lifestyle, friendship, art and music.

• Health promotion and community awareness raising activities.

• Providing feedback to Mental Health Service management regarding consumer experiences and ways the service could be improved.

CPS is run by Consumers for Consumers.

Eligibility

All Mental Health consumers are welcome to participate. You do not need to be a current client of the Mental Health Service or have a Care Coordinator.

The program is designed for people over the age of 18 years.

Referral

Anyone can refer to the Consumer Participation Service – eg: consumers, GPs, clinicians, family and carers. Referrals can be made by telephone or in person to the team member from the Consumer Participation Service when they are visiting the inpatient unit or community health centre.

Urgent cases

The Consumer Participation Service does not provide a clinical mental health service, or an emergency mental health service. To access urgent mental health care there are several options:

Ring the Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511. This line is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You will be able to speak with a clinician who can provide recommendations about how to manage the situation or put you in contact with the appropriate mental health team.

In urgent cases you can attend the Emergency Department at your nearest Hospital where there is 24 hour access to specialist mental health care and support.

If the situation is urgent or becoming dangerous ring Triple Zero (000) and request ambulance and/or police. They will be able to assist the person safely to the hospital Emergency Department to access mental health care.