'No wrong door': New free adult mental health hub opens in Nowra

No payment, appointment or referral will be needed for residents in the Shoalhaven and surrounding communities to access a free, newly opened walk-in mental health service for adults experiencing moderate psychological distress.

Developed in collaboration with the local community, the Shoalhaven Mental Health Hub is funded by federal government, commissioned by Primary Health Network COORDINARE and operated by Anglicare Sydney.

The hub offers support to improve wellbeing and mental health, either in-person, over the phone, virtually or in group sessions, and can connect people with the best service for their care needs.

It features a diverse team with a wide range of experiences, including mental health practitioners, peer workers and Aboriginal mental health workers, allowing tailored support to meet individual needs, according to Anglicare general manager of operations and delivery Andrew Baechle.

“We are delighted to be working closely with COORDINARE to meet community need through our multi-disciplinary service model, providing face-to-face and telehealth mental health services to clients of all ages,” he said.

“The aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and current cost-of-living stressors has seen an escalation in distress and support needs for families across the regions we service.

“We encourage anyone experiencing mental health issues to reach out and seek help as there is a range of support options available.”

A recent Shoalhaven City Council census revealed 16 per cent of Nowra’s population and 11 per cent of the Shoalhaven region were impacted by mental health.

Shoalhaven Mental Health Hub senior program manager Carly Warner said a primary focus of the service was to understand the demographics of people who haven’t yet or weren’t able to access support and try to create better pathways for residents of outer villages including Callala Bay, Ulladulla, Culburra, Sussex Inlet and Shoalhaven Heads.

“In the current climate, if a person is in crisis after 5 pm they either call 000 or head to the ED [Emergency Department], and there’s not a lot of free support outside of the NDIS [National Disability Insurance Scheme] or a mental health plan,” she said.

“Our catchphrase is ‘No wrong door’ – there are no real limits on who can walk through our doors, we’ll triage and either help them in-house or find the most suitable service for them through our network of referral pathways.

“We also offer support for partners, children and carers of people with mental ill-health to understand what it feels like to navigate and care for someone with a mental health diagnosis.”

Shoalhaven Mental Health Hub client Linda Knight said staff at the Hub were “like family”.

“You have saved me. Everyone has done so much for me. I’ve been waiting so long for this building to open. I’ll be down here every day,” she said. “You open your hands and your heart to everyone that come in to see you.”

The Shoalhaven service is one of five mental health hubs and two Head to Health centres opening in south-eastern NSW in 2024, funded by the Australian Government and commissioned by COORDINARE.

CEO of COORDINARE South Eastern NSW PHN Prudence Buist said the hub had been co-designed with services and the community to target local needs.

“Shoalhaven Mental Health Hub is a safe and welcoming space to connect with if you, or someone you care about, is experiencing difficulties with their mental health or social and emotional wellbeing,” she said.

The Shoalhaven Mental Health Hub is co-located with Wellways, a community mental health support service funded by the Ministry of Health, to provide integrated services and foster a collaborative approach to supporting the community.

The Shoalhaven Mental Health Hub is located at 11 Haigh Avenue, Nowra. For more information and to access services phone 1800 841 190.

You can also call the Head to Health phone line Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm on 1800 595 212.