Lifeline Northern Beaches Conselling and Support for Seniors

Our guests for the meeting were the Counselling Manager of Lifeline Northern Beaches (LLNB), Barbara Stenhouse accompanied by Clinical Lead for Support Groups and Psychological Services, Jane Dartanian. They were also joined by Iresha Lehane & Yvonne Watson from the Financial Counselling team -  plus our club member Rhonda from the telephone counselling team, via ZOOM. The strong affiliation between Rotary Balgowlah and LLNB dates back many years.

Audience in the RSL Balgowlah Wine Room

Barbara and Jane talked about LLNB's low or no cost counselling services on offer to the community and that LLNB have grown their face-to-face counselling and support groups by over 200% in the past two years to meet the demand. Barbara and Jane outlined the trends in our community seeking support and how it's helping to reduce suicide rates on the Northern Beaches, together with the club-funded Support for Seniors program.

 

Left to right: Iserha Lehane (LLNB), Jane Dartanian (LLNB) PP Roger Gray, Barbara Stenhouse (LLNB) and Yvonne Watson (LLNB)

Barbara explained that the Counselling Services for the local community operates in addiction to the Crisis Call Center which operates nationally. It offers accessible and affordable counselling services for the local community – from Kirribilli to Palm Beach, within a short time frame. The facilities are in Mosman (2 days /week), the main Balgowlah centre and Avalon hub (half a day per week).

The services are available at low/no cost, for families or individuals aged over 15 years, with ease of access ether self-referral or via GP mental health plan (via Medicare).

The team of 22 counsellor volunteers consists of professionally qualified psychologists, psychotherapists, counsellors, or social workers. All are trained in suicide prevention, intervention and postvention, plus treatment of trauma. Professional development of skills is ongoing together with mentoring of final year placement students.

The counselling service over the last 2 calendar years has had a 200% increase when compared to 2019 (pre Covid) sessions. (The dip in the later months of 2021 is when Covid lock down regulations required that all sessions be held virtually.)

The Age by Gender figures for 2021 shows that over 30% of clients are aged in the first two age groups (15-17years & 18 -24years) – many mental health issues start in adolescence. Barbara explained the that in 2021 the service reduced the intake age down to 15 years (the waitlist though Headspace was ballooning out to 3 months); and attempts to intervene with adolescents via prevention before a potential crisis occurs.

Middle-aged men (age 50s to 60s) are at the highest risk of all the different age groups - especially suicidality and the need for support for this at-risk group is significantly important in our community.

The major issues presented at counselling during 2021were anxiety 31%, depression 20%, grief & loss 14%, relationship issues 13% and family breakdown 11%. The balance was trauma, addition issues and domestic violence.

Jane outlined the clinical and psychological services provided, both suicide prevention and postvention support. Several groups are used:

•      Lounge Chat - support group for relatives of a suicidal person    (* Funded by Northern Beaches Council)

•      Suicide Bereavement Support group – monthly meeting

•      Seasons for Growth* Psycho-ed grief & loss

•      Seasons for Growth* Parent seminar supporting your child following the death of someone they love (* Funded NB Council).

•      Together with a few other support groups such as Adult Survivors of Childhood Abuse and Trauma (women only); Grief & Loss; Managing Emotions (mild anxiety and depression); Men’s anger management; Safe and Self (Domestic & Family Violence) (women only) 

New Senior’s Group supported by Rotary Balgowlah

Our Rotary club is providing funding for this initiative. By way of background, Jane outlined the continuing aging of the population (15.9% or 3.9 million people nationally are aged 65+ years). They are identified as a priority population for suicide prevention strategies: there has been an increase in social isolation – particularly during Covid, and higher rates of suicide for males in their late 80s. 

The key areas of the program will address the challenges and barriers that contribute to social isolation. It provides support to individuals who are 60+ years, creating a safe place to share experiences and coping strategies with a focus on wellbeing and coping with late transitional changes, grief & loss.

Reducing Social Isolation for Senior’s group 

SUPPORT FOR SENIORS will focus on the importance of talking, sharing stories, and creating a sense of community among everyone in the group and will cover:

•      Managing change/and/or loss in later life

•      Transitioning to retirement and wellbeing

•      Coping with loss and change

•      Wellbeing for senior citizens

•      Providing access to services, activities and support networks across the Northern Beaches

LLNB can also arrange for individual counselling for SUPPORT GROUP FOR SENIORS participants, plus FINANCIAL COUNSELLING.

P.P. Roger Gray making the vote of thanks

 

 

After a very fruitful Q & A session on a wide range of areas, the audience thanked the speakers for a most informative and enlightening presentation plus how our club’s sponsorship of the New Seniors group program operates.

 

For more information about the counselling services and groups please visit LLNB website: lifelinenb.org.au

Or contact the counselling team on:

Ph:             9949 5522 (office hours)

Email:        counselling@lifelinenb.org.au

 OUR NEXT MEETINGS:

Formal Meeting 

Tues March 1, 2022 

Golf Day & Dinner preparation

Dinner available in Bistro from 6 pm   

Balgowlah RSL Wine Room from 7pm and via Zoom

 

SPECIAL Meeting

(ZOOM by invitation     only)     

Final thought

 

Tues March 8, 2022@ 7pm

Honorable Brad HAZZARD MP

Covid recovery update