Information for Consumers and Carers

Information about treatment and services

• For simple information about different diagnoses - click here
• For information about the various mental health services and their locations - click here
• To read about what you can expect if you come to hospital - click here
• The Mental Health Admission Pack - provides information about an inpatient stay
• Charter of Healthcare Rights - apply to all people in all places where health care is provided in Australia. The Charter describes what you, or someone you care for, can expect when receiving health care
• We employ a number of Peer Support Workers with their own lived experience of mental ill health
• If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts and want to talk it through 24/7 - Suicide Call Back Service

Partnering with consumers in mental healthcare

We are committed to working alongside consumers, and see it as key to achieving better outcomes for people accessing mental health services.

• HNE Mental Health: our commitment to engage with carers

Because we are committed to this principle, we have a focus on partnering with consumers and carers in our healthcare planning.

There are a number of ways consumers, carers and the community can get involved and help us to design and deliver mental healthcare.

Your Experience of Service (YES) Survey

The YES survey is designed to gather information from consumers about their experiences of care. It aims to help mental health services and consumers to work together to build better services. Available at all MH Service locations – just ask!

The Mental Health Lived Experience Participation Unit (LEPU)

People with lived experience of mental health challenges, their carers, families and other support people are recognised as active partners with our service. Effective participation occurs when consumers and carers are meaningfully involved in decision making about a person’s care and treatment, or providing input on decision making about service delivery, health policy and planning, or about the broader wellbeing of themselves and the community (Department of Human Services, 2006).

To support safe and effective engagement and participation across the service, unit, program and organisational levels, HNE MHS has a Lived Experience Participation Unit (LEPU). It is the preferred method for collaborating with independent people who are passionate about engaging in systemic advocacy and service redesign and innovation. The unit is a central point for the recruitment, management and support of these enthusiastic individuals and the service.

People can partner with us in a variety of ways:

• At an Individual level – examples include: shared decisions about treatment, care and self-management; feedback on your experiences of care (CES Survey).
• With a Service, Unit or Program – examples include: being involved in co-design of service improvement or new developments; being involved in reference groups and committees; providing feedback and being involved in the co-evaluation of services.
• Across the Organisation (HNEMHS) – examples include: being a representative on advisory groups and committees looking at policies and new services; participating in governance roles monitoring performance; and being involved in training of staff.
• At the broader community and strategic systems level – examples include advocacy in consumer and community groups at regional, state, national levels; co-design of policies and strategies; representatives on committees.

Please email for more information or if you would like to become a member of the LEPU
HNEHLD-MentalHealthConsumerParticipation@hnehealth.nsw.gov.au