Psychological Support Services (PSS)

Referrals to PSS can be made for a course of 10 sessions. After that, client’s may be able to access up to 8 additional sessions dependant on treatment need or extenuating circumstances. The decision about ongoing sessions will be made by the consortium clinical lead, in line with the advice of the treating clinician and the referring GP .

Rationale for ongoing sessions may include:

• The need to provide support to transition the client to other support services
• Managing a decline in the client’s mental health
• Finalising treatment for more moderate presentations.
• Significant impact arising from a negative event change in life circumstances (e.g. becoming homeless, death of a loved one)

Once clients have reached the maximum sessions under PSS they will exit the program. Clients cannot return to PSS unless there is a new diagnosis or treatment need. You should consider this at the time of the initial referral – if you feel that they will need a longer period of therapy this might not be the most appropriate pathway.

To increase accessibility to the program, we have removed the mandatory GP review required to continue sessions beyond session 10. Clinicians will continue to encourage clients to seek GP reviews.

The treating MHP is required to provide the GP with initial, progress, and final report detailing the client’s current condition, care planning, risk assessment, and exit planning.

Yes. Please note that there is a backlog of referrals that will be prioritised for allocation, and new referrals may still incur a wait time of up to 4-6 weeks.

Suicide Prevention Service (SPS) referrals continue to be open. Clients can access 8 SPS sessions of psychological therapy for suicide prevention. These do not count to the sessions noted above.

Multiple rounds of SPS and extensions to SPS are not available. This would indicate the client needs a step up in care to a more appropriate service.

PSS is designed to be a one-off short-term program for individuals with mild to moderate mental health concerns. It is not an annually renewable program like Better Access.

Once clients have reached the maximum sessions under PSS (up to 18 Max) they will need to exit the program.

Clients can be referred again in the future if a new treatment need arises or a new mild to moderate mental health diagnosis occurs.

Yes. Clients can be referred again in the future if a new treatment need arises or a new mild to moderate mental health diagnosis. E.g., A person seen treated for depression in PSS returns for Perinatal mental health support.

PSS is not designed or funded to provide ongoing treatment for clients on a continuing basis. Clients who continue to present to PSS may need a higher level of care that is no longer in the scope of mild to moderate treatment.

For most Individuals using PSS up to 10 sessions of intervention for an episode of care will be sufficient as they are presenting with mild-moderate levels of need. You can discuss any alternative options available to your client with the CESPHN Mental Health team.

Together with the treating clinician, your client was assisted to either reach a point of treatment completed, move to an alternative program, such as Better Access, or wait for additional PSS sessions from 1 July.

Individuals can return to the PSS program to complete treatment if sessions are still available within their initial 10 sessions approval. To do this, Individuals will need to return within 12 months and still meet eligibility criteria. Please note that sessions beyond the 10 sessions are not guaranteed.

CESPHN is processing referrals that were placed on hold with consortiums to prioritise your client’s allocation to a treating clinician. Once accepted, you will receive an email notification (to the email you used in the original referral) that your client has their first appointment.

Dear Dr XX, PSS – Young Person (12-25) REFERRAL NOTIFICATION This email is to confirm that your referral on 07/02/2022 for services through the program for Referral: CESxxxxxx, client XX N, DOB xx/xx/xxxx, Gender Female has been accepted and is being processed by CONSORTIUM – John Smith. If you require any further information, please contact the team on: Email: mentalhealth@cesphn.com.au Regards, rediCASE

CESPHN are working with PSS providers to ensure they can navigate our mental health service directory and understand the programs available locally.

A treating clinician will be able to refer clients to a range of options. Several options are listed below for your reference:

• PICS – Mental Health Nurse and Peer Support program which now includes some group based therapeutic intervention along with the individual therapeutic intervention that mental health nurses can provide.
• Connect and Thrive – Psycho-social support providing recovery based and trauma informed support and coordination for people living with severe and persistent mental illness
• NSW Health Safe Havens located in Kogarah, Darlinghurst and Newtown providing a calm, culturally sensitive and non-clinical alternative to hospital emergency departments, for people experiencing distress or suicidal thoughts
• SANE – counselling, peer support, online groups and events, 24/7 community forums, and online information and resources.
• Your coach plus – CBT based mental health coaching and social prescribing, a low intensity option for people once they have finalised PSS.
• SocialRX – Wellbeing group-based support and social prescribing service

If you have any further questions, please contact CESPHN Mental Health Intake Team on 1300 170 554 or mentalhealth@cesphn.com.au

Please note CESPHN emails are non-encrypted end to end therefore we cannot send or receive any emails with personal or sensitive information as it is considered a breach of privacy.