Keeping the Body in Mind

Referral required for this program

Keeping the Body In Mind-primary (KBIM-p) is a CESPHN-funded physical health service for individuals living with severe mental illness. The service, including an exercise physiologist, dietitian, nicotine treatment specialist and peer worker, operates out of the UNSW Health Translation Hub.

KBIM-p offers telehealth services when in-person support is not easily available. Participants in this program can access the following services at no cost: 

• Up to 12 sessions each with:
  • An exercise physiologist 
  • A dietitian 
  • A nicotine treatment specialist 
  • A peer worker

The KBIM-p service includes:

• Personalised Exercise Programs: Provision of one-on-one and group physical activity programs that are flexible and tailored to each person’s needs and preferences.
• Nutrition Support: Individualised dietitian consultations offer nutrition education, goal setting, and personalised dietary advice, as well as cooking groups for building kitchen skills and balanced meals at home.
• Nicotine Cessation: A dedicated nicotine treatment specialist provides comprehensive assessments and tailored support for smoking and vaping cessation.
• Peer Support: The mental health peer worker offers ongoing support with maintaining health and lifestyle goals. Through the lens of lived experience, the peer worker helps foster motivation and empowerment, and ensures clients feel heard and understood as they overcome barriers to creating positive change.
• Patient-Centred Approach: The KBIM-p program emphasises participant-led goal setting and barrier identification, ensuring patients are actively engaged in their health journey.

Eligibility criteria

• Diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder or bipolar disorder; diagnosis of major depressive disorder with psychosis symptoms; or taking antipsychotics
• Not currently having care managed by a public mental health service
• Reside within the Central and Eastern Sydney PHN region
• Aged between 18-75 years

Referrals

Your GP or mental health professional (e.g., psychologists, psychiatrists, support workers) can refer to this service.

To refer someone who meets the eligibility criteria, please complete the referral form online via this link.

Please note, there is currently a waitlist for both the exercise physiologist and the dietician, however clients can access nicotine treatment and peer support straight away.

If you have any further questions, please contact the team:

• Sam, Peer Worker: 0401 418 873
• Shruti, Nicotine Treatment Specialist: 0403 611 747
• Simon, Exercise Physiologist: 0401 979 228
• Lucy, Dietician: 0488 096 084