For urgent or crisis assistance at any time, please call NSW Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511 (24/7), or dial 000 for emergencies.

Psychological Support Services (PSS)

A referral is required for this program

Psychological Support Services (PSS) provides free access to short-term psychological therapy either face-to-face or via telehealth. PSS is for people experiencing mild to moderate mental health concerns who live in the Central and Eastern Sydney region and are experiencing financial hardship or low income, and who may not be able to access support through Medicare subsidised psychological services.

Provider Information

Psychological Support Services (PSS) in the Central and Eastern Sydney region are primarily delivered by APMHA HealthCare Ltd as the Lead Agency.

Lilly Pilly Counselling will support the delivery of select services within the program to ensure accessible care across the region.

Eligibility

Psychological Support Services is for people who:

Live within the Central and Eastern Sydney region. Find your local PHN.
Have a diagnosable mild to moderate mental health concern.
May benefit from short-term treatment.
Are unable to access other services including the Better Access Initiative (Medicare subsidised psychological services) due to financial hardship or low income (Individual income below $67,000 or family income below $140,000).

Psychological Support Services has skilled clinicians who can support individuals who fall within the following groups:

Children (0-12 years who have not yet graduated from primary school) with, or who are at risk of developing a mild to moderate mental, emotional, or behavioural disorder.
Young people (12-25 years).
Adult (low income).
Individuals who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer/Questioning (LGBTIQA+).
Individuals experiencing perinatal depression and their partners.
Individuals who identify as Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander.
Individuals who identify as part of a Multicultural Community.
Individuals who have attempted, or who are at risk of suicide, or self-harm.
Individuals with mild intellectual disability who may benefit from short-term psychological intervention when co-occurring mental health concerns are diagnosed.
Individuals impacted by natural disasters or traumatic events.

Who can refer?

General Practitioners (GP) may refer to PSS. GPs can submit referrals using the National Medicare Mental Health eReferral SmartForm via HealthLink SmartForms in their clinical software. Non-Medical Practitioner (NMP) referrals are also accepted. NMP referrals allow PSS practitioners to carry out up to 10 sessions prior to obtaining a Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP).

Suicide Prevention Service (SPS)

CESPHN provides priority access to the PSS Suicide Prevention Service (SPS) initiative for individuals who are considered at increased risk following a suicide attempt, self-harm, or who have heightened suicidal ideation and who are best supported in the primary health care setting.

The primary objective of the Mental Health Practitioner (MHP) within the SPS will be to focus on suicide prevention, prevention of future risk taking, identifying early warning signs and triggers. Please note this is a time limited short-term service and is not appropriate to commence focused psychological therapy.

This service is for individuals 18 years and over, who have attempted suicide or who have heightened suicidal ideation and are being supported in the primary health care setting, therefore no longer considered at acute risk.

SPS is not designed to support people who are at acute and immediate risk of suicide or self-harm. Individuals at acute risk should be referred immediately to your relevant State or Territory Government acute mental health team (or equivalent). A GP MHTP forms part of accessing this service.