WHY MENTAL HEALTH?

Mental health is a key component of overall health and wellbeing. However, health data from the Hunter New England and Central Coast Primary Health Network (HNECC PHN) Local Government Areas indicate a significant need for intervention and an uplift in targeted services to address the psychological distress embedded within our communities.

Mental fitness within the community is trending downward, adding pressure to stretched mental health services and staff. The Australian Bureau of Statistics’ National Study of Mental and Wellbeing indicates that in Australia 42.9% of people aged 16–85 years had experienced a mental disorder at some time in their life. Looking closer to home, more adults in our region experience high or very high psychological distress compared to New South Wales and Australia-wide averages.

CHALLENGE STATEMENT

The HNECC PHN is seeking new and innovative early intervention solutions that empower individuals to:

• Identify a decline in mental fitness and therefore a need for intervention; and

• Ensure the early adoption of the proposed solution to achieve or maintain mental fitness; and

• The solution is adaptable, accessible, and scalable.

A solution is not intended to replace traditional therapy. It would be ideal to support the general population who need direction to maintain or get mental fitness back on track, those looking for support while waiting for appointments, or to support patients undergoing sessions if deemed suitable by a mental health professional. 

Some of the data presented and the topics discussed as part of this challenge may cause distress. Services you can contact are listed on the ABS Mental Health Resources page.