Warren and Coonabarabran will be on the receiving end of a pilot program led by people with lived experience of mental illness, tasked with addressing mental health care and treatment across the community.

The two ‘Peer Navigators’ will take their post in Warren and Coonabarabran over a 12-month period, coaching the communities through mental health issues through a ‘no wrong door’ approach. 

A similar concept was introduced across the region during drought, where a Peer Support Drought Team assigned local people with an understanding of the local challenges and adversities to offer support and mentorship to those struggling with their mental health. 

Western NSW Local Health District Peer Navigation Pilot Program Lead Jennifer Coote said that the pilot is a combination of two roles that have shown success in the past. 

“The Peer Navigation Pilot is being established as an addition to the existing network and roles. Peer Work roles are well-established in the LHD, and navigator roles have shown some success in various programs throughout the state. These roles expand on a traditional navigator role, to add the ‘peer’ element through lived experience to support people access care,” Ms Coote said. 

A prerequisite to the role, according to the position description - is a personal experience as a consumer of mental health services, and the ability to utilise the lived experience to support others with their own mental health recovery journey. 

With the towns being the only two pinpointed for the pilot period so far across the state, the locations are reflective of the mental health, drug and alcohol issues that have a firm hold over the region. 

Ms Coote said that Warren and Coonabarabran were chosen as sites as they often have visiting mental health clinicians that outreach from Dubbo, and could benefit from increased permanency.

“It can be more difficult to navigate those services and supports because it does require knowledge of when they will be in town, on top of being aware of referral procedures and how to access them. Both towns also have limited public transport, which can make it difficult to attend appointments in Dubbo,” she said. 

According to the Western NSW Primary Health Network (PHN), 2015-16 statistics reveal that the intentional self harm rates for males 15-24 locally is almost double the state average, while the 5-year average suicide rate is 16 per cent higher than that of the state. 

The rate per 100,000 of intentional self-harm hospitalisations in the PHN since 2002 has almost consistently been above the state average since 2002, with the exception of three years. 

Minister for Western NSW Dugald Sauders said the Peer Navigators will work three days a week, providing on the ground support for those communities.

“Because of their lived experience, the Peer Navigators will do a fantastic job of connecting with people in Warren and Coonabarabran on a personal, relatable level,” Mr Saunders said.

“The impact programs like these have on locals is immeasurable and I look forward to the people of Western NSW feeling more connected and aware of the mental health services available to them.” 

With the pilot only just launching, there are many variables that could impact whether the program will expand into other regions.

“With the roles aimed at providing support in town for 12 months, we will be able to gauge how big an impact that can make for Coonabarabran and Warren which will give us some insight into how the program could work in other areas too,” Ms Coote said. 

Alongside support, coaching and mentorship, connections with services that can assist with employment, transport and housing will be a key part of the ongoing support to patients.