What is LikeMind?
LikeMind is a NSW pilot program established in 2015 as an integrated mental health care initiative with general and specialist care options available in purposefully designed centres. LikeMind provides free and confidential services and has a focus on consumer driven recovery through a holistic and collaborative approach across four specific service streams; mental health, primary health, drug and alcohol, and vocational/social needs including linkages to employment and housing.
Lead community managed organisations (CMOs) that manage the program work closely with relevant Local Health Districts as well as other public services across all levels of government. This ensures care and support is maintained across the four specific service streams. It also enables advocacy to reduce stigma surrounding mental health and mental illness, with an intention to meaningfully contribute to building healthier communities.
What will my journey with LikeMind look like?
Your journey begins with a trained healthcare professional (clinician), working with you to understand your current situation and listening to your specific needs through an initial assessment. Together with the clinician you will create a coordinated care plan based on your goals. This will help to connect you with the services you need, which may be located within the LikeMind centre or within the community. The clinician will support you to access the best services for your situation and needs. For the duration of your time with LikeMind a clinician will continue to support you with care reviews as required to ensure you are continuing to receive the right supports at the right time.
A care review involves checking-in regarding your progress towards your goals set out in the care plan and to see how your treatment is going. It may involve providing you with any referrals to other services that may help to further support you. At times you may work with your GP and clinician to review your progress and, along with yourself, decide if any further treatment is required.
A LikeMind clinician will discuss plans with you for ongoing self-care. People receiving LikeMind supports will work with:
- a clinician that will assess their needs, and
- their family or other important people in their life to develop their own unique support plan.
How much support can I get?
The amount of support you can receive is based around your needs and the services you may wish to engage with. Needs can change over time and your clinician will continue to work closely with you to ensure you are receiving the right care at the right time. When things are going well, you may find you need less support. There may also be times when you are finding things are difficult or distressing, and it would be helpful to get more frequent support. Additionally, there may be times where you need extra support from other services to meet your needs.
LikeMind provides psychosocial supports that help people build independence in daily life and contribute to recovery. The types of support people receive depends on their individual needs and own unique goals for what they want to achieve. LikeMind helps people identify goals and work towards meeting those goals by providing support that may include:
- referral to mental and other health services where needed and support with mental and other health appointments, medication management and other treatments
- building relationships with family, friends and the local communities
- accessing education or help to get a job
- help with finding and keeping housing including private or social/community housing.
Do I need a Mental Health Care Plan?
If you call LikeMind, are referred by another service, or walk in to one of our clinics, LikeMind clinicians will see you for mental health assessment and care planning, whether or not you have a current mental health treatment plan.
If you are wanting to engage with a psychologist or registered health professional at LikeMind for ongoing support, you will need to get a mental health care plan from your GP. You will need to visit your GP and let them know that you wish to engage with a psychologist under a mental health care plan, the team at LikeMind can provide you with a letter to help explain this to your GP.
Do I get housing as part of the program?
Accommodation is not provided as part of the LikeMind program and you are not automatically eligible for public or community housing. LikeMind can work with housing organisations who may help you find or keep your housing. This can include helping you apply for housing with the Department of Communities and Justice.
Am I eligible for LikeMind?
You may be eligible for LikeMind if you:
- are 18 - 65 years old
- have mental health concerns that causes you a lot of difficulties in your day to day life
- want to receive help to develop and achieve your goals.
Your local provider can give you more information about the criteria for the program.
Are there any target groups for the program?
There are no target groups for the LikeMind program as it’s walk in model aims to be accessible to anyone who needs help.
Are telehealth options available?
If you would like to do your appointments with LikeMind via telehealth, you can contact the CMO to make arrangements. LikeMind can provide all of your appointments, from intake and care planning to your ongoing appointments with a clinician, your care reviews and discharge appointments, via either telephone or video conference.
LikeMind Evaluation 2024
The final 2024 report of the Evaluation of theLikeMind pilot program is complete. The evaluation was undertaken by the Centre for Health Service Development, University of Wollongong over a 25 month period from January 2022 to January 2024.
The evaluation found LikeMind services:
- met genuine need and unmet needs and was well recognised and regarded in the local communities it services
- achieved positive outcomes for some consumers
- have not been implemented as originally intended. Co-location with local health districts was not successful, and demand for local health district services was not reduced
- have been impacted by a range of policy developments at state and national level that have changed the mental health system and led to potential duplication of services.
Where can I get more information about the program?
Your local LikeMind provider is able to provide you with more information, including how to access or refer someone into the program.
You can contact your local LikeMind provider using the below contact information.
Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District
Uniting - Penrith
Email: likemindpenrith@uniting.org
Phone: 02 8880 8111
Website: LikeMind Western Sydney
Western Sydney Local Health District
Uniting – Seven Hills
Email: likemindsevenhills@uniting.org
Phone: 02 8806 3800
Website: LikeMind Western Sydney
Murrumbidgee Local Health District
Stride – Wagga Wagga
Email: info.likemindwagga@aftercare.com.au
Phone: 02 6936 2000
Website: LikeMind Wagga Wagga
Western NSW Local Health District
Stride - Orange
Email: LikeMind.Orange@stride.com.au
Phone: 02 6311 1700
Website: LikeMind Orange
If you are unsure about which local health district you are in, further information can be found at Local Health Districts and Specialty Networks.
Local health districts
If you require urgent mental health assistance, please contact the Mental Health:
Telephone Access Line
1800 011 511
Lifeline
13 11 14
Emergency Services
000
You can also present to your nearest emergency department. If you are unsure where to go, visit the HealthDirect website for further information.
