Lifeline Direct will continue to offer a free face-to-face counselling service in Cessnock, with a view to expanding the service in the near future.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Lifeline received funding from the Primary Health Network in September 2020 to deliver the program in the Cessnock local government area, following the previous summer's bushfire crisis.
Cessnock City Council has recently provided funding from its Bushfire Community Recovery and Resilience Grants program for Lifeline Direct to continue to hold the free, fortnightly counselling sessions at Cessnock Youth Centre Outreach Service (CYCOS) in Aberdare.
The service with a qualified counsellor is available for anyone from the Cessnock local government area who needs it and is accessible at no-cost, without a referral and with minimal waiting times.
Lifeline counsellor Steve Hessel said it is an important service for the Cessnock region, especially during the pandemic.
"It has been very busy - it originally started out as half-a-day a fortnight, and is now a full day a fortnight, and will possibly soon be offering full-day weekly sessions, because the demand is so high here," he said.
"We see a cross-section of the community - mental health doesn't respect age, or income - it can affect anybody. Our youngest client was 16 and the oldest in her 80s, who was suffering poor mental health during COVID lockdown.
"We have seen many middle-aged women, a high proportion who have suffered domestic violence or complex trauma.
"We are also getting good referrals from GPs."
Appointments can be made on 1300 152 854 during business hours, or via lifelinedirect.org.au/hunter.
- For 24/7 crisis or suicide prevention support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.