News

Psychology service meets growing need in Lake Macquarie and Newcastle

Dec 08, 2020

A new private psychology service will open in Charlestown to meet the growing need for community-based mental health services in the Lake Macquarie and Newcastle region.

The incidence of mental and behavioural conditions in the region is higher than the New South Wales average  with figures revealing one in four people seek assistance for a mental health issue.

Ramsay Health Care’s National Mental Health Service Line Director, David McGrath, said the clinic at Charlestown will be the second of a number of community-based mental health clinics that Ramsay was rolling out.

He said almost 29,000 people received community mental health care in the region in 2017/2018 with 15,970 of those presenting to emergency departments.

“This shows there is a huge need for more services to meet community demand for psychological services,” Mr McGrath said.

The new practice opens on November 30 and will be ready to immediately start helping Lake Macquarie and Newcastle locals.

“We will have a team of psychologists offering support for a broad range of mental health conditions and concerns, from anxiety and depression to relationship problems, or coping with significant change and stress like the COVID pandemic,” Mr McGrath said.

“For many people a few sessions in a community-based environment is all that they need to see a significant improvement in their life experience”

“It will also be a good service for those who did require hospital treatment and want to do follow up sessions in a community setting once they have been discharged.”

The service at 250 Pacific Hwy, Charlestown, is building up to having the equivalent of ten full-time clinicians.
“These community-based practices can sometimes be more accessible and feel less threatening than a hospital, particularly to people accessing help for the first time,” Mr McGrath said.

The clinic will also offer telehealth options for patients in more regional areas.
 
“Our team provides personalised care for adults, teenagers, and children, couples and families across a wide range of mental health conditions and symptoms,” Mr McGrath said.

“We understand that mental health, and mental health challenges, look different for everyone. That’s why our psychologists are experienced in a wide range of evidence-based therapies.”