Our Hospital To Recovery Program works in collaboration with the Mid North Coast Local Health District.
Our Mental Health Peer worker is collocated between Lifeline Mid Coast and Port Macquarie Base Hospital Community Health.
Our Peer worker Tony is referred patients that have attempted suicide from the Mental Health Unit and from the Emergency Department.
Tony meets patients while they are in hospital and spends time with them, supporting, listening and advocating for their needs. Tony then follows up the patient after they are discharged from the hospital. Tony spends his time visiting the patients in their home, delivering meals, taking them to Doctor & Specialist appointments, advocating for them with agencies such as Centrelink, Ostara (job agency), Neimi (NGO), Link to Home (Homeless service), Services Australia – basically supporting people in the weeks after being in hospital – getting linked back into the community and services.
Tony links the patients with the Endeavour Mental Health Clubhouse and Lifeline, where they can also get support from the Suicide Prevention Manager and joining our 8-week support after a suicide attempt (Eclipse) group.