A mother’s journey using Psychological Support Services (PSS)

Would your patient benefit from Psychological Support Services (PSS)? 

The PSS program is open to referrals and mental health practitioners are available to commence working with patients. With a track record of over 8 years of delivering quality psychological support to vulnerable community members, PSS can provide an effective and accessible free treatment option for patients experiencing mild to moderate mental health concerns.

How the PSS Program transformed one mother’s journey.

This client case involves a 42-year-old immigrant mother diagnosed with Postnatal Depression (PND). Living in Australia with no close family support and facing financial instability due to her partner’s employment challenges, she was left vulnerable and isolated. The PSS program provided her with a crucial opportunity for mental health support.

The client experienced significant emotional distress, including mood instability, heightened anxiety, and difficulties in managing her toddler’s behaviour. Compounding these issues were tensions with her partner, worsened by the added strain of early parenthood and financial insecurity. The birth of her second child further exacerbated her anxieties.

A diversified approach was used, combining Psychodynamic Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and Solution-Focused Therapy. A systemic lens was also applied, considering family-of-origin influences, current relational dynamics, and contextual factors.

Specific interventions included:

1. Strength-Based Approach: Therapy highlighted and build on the client’s strengths to enhance coping.
2. Psychoeducation: Provided practical tools on toddler development, sleep, and behaviour management.
3. Relationship Skills: Addressed relationship stressors, introducing communication strategies to reduce conflict and improve connection.
4. Trauma-Informed Care: Grounding techniques and cognitive structuring were used to restore a sense of safety.

The client showed significant improvement over several sessions, reporting better emotional regulation, improved communication with her partner, and greater confidence in managing her toddler’s behaviour. She also addressed anxiety and regained confidence after a local traumatic incident.

The client now feels more resilient and prepared for new challenges, feeling empowered by the strategies and validation received through therapy.

Eligibility and Program Overview  

The PSS program provides access to psychological therapies for people who would otherwise not be able to access cared due to cost or other access barriers. Eligibility was updated in July 2024 to ensure this program is available for those who need it most. Patients must be residents of the Central and Eastern Sydney region with an individual income below $67,000 or family income below $140,000. 

Delivered by qualified mental health professionals, the program provides free, high-quality care through face-to-face and telehealth modalities. With a team of bilingual clinicians fluent in languages including Mandarin, Cantonese, Arabic, Spanish, Italian, Korean, and Hebrew, the program provides comprehensive and culturally sensitive mental health services for the diverse community of the region.  

The PSS program also offers access to the Suicide Prevention Service for individuals who are considered at risk following a suicide attempt, self-harm, or who have heightened suicidal ideation and are best supported in the primary health care setting.  

If you have questions about the program or would like to discuss the most suitable referral pathways for your patients, you can contact the PSS intake and triage team on 1300 170 554 or at mentalhealth@cesphn.com.au

• Download Arabic PSS Flyer
• Download Chinese Simplified PSS Flyer  
• Download Chinese Traditional PSS Flyer 
• Download English PSS Flyer