Have Your Say On The Mental Health Line

The National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing shows us that two in five Australians experience a mental health issue in their lifetime.

That tells us that mental health is a major concern, but there is hope. People with lived experience of mental illness and their carers are helping shape the future of the Mental Health line, sharing their experience with the NSW Government.

Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke said the 1800 011 511 NSW Mental Health Line was a free phone service operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week and offering specialist advice, support and referral to specialist NSW Health mental health services.

“We want to ensure it continues to meet the mental health needs of our community,” Ms Cooke said.

“Co-designing the Mental Health Line with people with lived experience of mental illness is the best way to ensure the next evolution continues to make a real difference to those who need it.”

“Recent ‘Have Your Say’ consultations have helped us to better understand areas such as digital inclusion and digital identity, with these engagements generating new ideas for how we can better deliver services to the people of NSW.”

“I encourage people in our community to get involved in the ‘Have Your Say’ consultation, whether they have experience using the Mental Health Line or may have not known about the service, we want to hear from all.” The events of the last few years have really highlighted the importance of mental health services and the need to invest in them.

The Mental Health Line helps people access appropriate mental health services, but there is always room for improvement.

In 2020-21, around 864,000 Australians accessed at least one digital service for their mental health, but it is understood that this number represents only one in ten people who have experienced mental health distress.

People need to be able to easily access services that can help them when they are at their most vulnerable.

The NSW Government has allocated $2.2 billion across four years to invest in digital transformation projects through the DRF.

The fund is administered by the Department of Customer Service and targets smart, simple technology solutions which create efficiencies for customers across the State.

Visit haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/nsw-mhl-consultation to have your say on the future of Mental Health Line.

• Topics:

• Mental Health