Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD) is reminding people to be cautious and have a plan to beat the heat during extreme temperatures forecast across the region for the rest of the week and into the weekend. 

Priscilla Stanley, WNSWLHD Public Health Director, said temperatures are expect to reach upward of, and in some areas above, 40 degrees Celsius across the District in the coming days. 

Ms Stanley urged people to understand how heat can affect their health and take precautions, particularly those at greater risk like older people, people with existing medical conditions, pregnant women, babies and young people, outdoor workers and socially-isolated people. 

“This summer is predicted to be very hot. For a lot of our District this appears to be one of the first real tastes of that extreme weather, so I encourage everyone to take the risk of heat-related illness seriously,” Ms Stanley said. 

“Heat can impact anyone and it puts a lot of stress on the body. It causes dehydration, heat stroke and heat exhaustion. These conditions can cause serious illness, hospital admission or even death and extreme heat can make underlying health conditions worse.” 

New Beyond Blue data reveals one in five people’s mental health is being extremely impacted by the rising cost of living. A new community survey commissioned by Beyond Blue found financial pressures are the number one stressor for people as we head towards the end of year. 

The survey found, the overwhelming majority (77 per cent) say they feel stressed heading into the end of the year – almost a third feel “quite a bit” or “extremely” stressed. 

83 per cent report the rising cost of living is negatively impacting their mental health, with one in five respondents reporting that impact is extreme. People aged 18 – 49 were more likely to report the cost of living was having a negative impact on their mental health, and almost a third of all respondents say they are unlikely to put a plan in place to manage their mental health. 

Beyond Blue’s Clinical Spokesperson Dr Grant Blashki said “Beyond Blue is prepared for an increase in demand for its support service this month”. 

“Last December, we saw a 41 per cent increase on the monthly average in contacts to the Beyond Blue Support Service, and we expect the same, if not more, this year,” said Dr Blashki. 

“As the holiday season approaches, financial stress is having a significant impact on people’s mental health, it’s a time of great reflection, loneliness for some, and impossible financial expectations for others, such as buying presents or travelling to see family”. 

*The Ipsos Community Sentiment Poll surveyed a representative sample of 1,000 people in November. 

Lifeline and Beyond Blue are linking up under a new partnership to make it easier and more efficient for people to find the support that best suits them. 

Community demand for mental health and crisis support rises and resources become increasingly tight, Lifeline and Beyond Blue have designed their new strategic directions to be complementary. 

Lifeline will continue to focus on supporting people in crisis and Beyond Blue will continue to focus on prevention and earlier intervention, supporting people at the first sign of struggle. 

Together, the organisations support millions of people a year with information, advice, online self-help and referrals via telephone, text, webchat and digital platforms. 

Beyond Blue Chair The Hon Julia Gillard AC said: “Australia’s mental health and suicide prevention systems are too often crisis-driven. People often only get support when they’re at breaking point. So Beyond Blue will continue its focus on supporting people early on – helping people to feel better sooner, to get well and to stay well.” 

Lifeline Chair Jacinta Munro said: “Lifeline will continue to focus on crisis support and suicide prevention, supporting Australians in times of crisis and equipping individuals and communities to be suicide safe.” 

“This partnership between Lifeline and Beyond Blue helps to deliver a more integrated system, with more clarity for help seekers, smoother transitions between services and a greater focus on holistic support.” 

Earlier this year, the organisations formalised a three-year collaboration agreement that will build on their long record of working together in operations and advocacy. This year, the Victorian Government engaged Lifeline and Beyond Blue to lead the first stage of a sectorwide co-design to deliver on a Victorian Royal Commission recommendation to create better referral pathways across the state’s helplines. 

Beyond Blue and Lifeline worked closely during the Black Saturday bushfires and the height of the pandemic, including by linking young people to Lifeline’s crisis text service from the Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Service delivered by Beyond Blue. 

Now official, the partnership means Lifeline and Beyond Blue will be better placed to share resources and connect people with the information, advice and support that suits them best, regardless of where their journey begins. 

In the past four years alone, more than 400,000 people have used the app with more than 150,000 safety plans made.

Cancer care patients from across Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD) are benefitting from an enhancement to oncology services in the region, which has significantly increased access to a specialised treatment previously only available in metropolitan areas. 

In collaboration with Central Coast and Northern Sydney Local Health Districts, WNSWLHD is the first Local Health District in regional NSW to implement the Varian HyperArc treatment delivery system. 

This allows patients with selected small brain tumors to receive stereotactic radiosurgery treatment locally. 

Regional Health Minister Ryan Park said nine patients have already received this vital, state-of-the-art treatment locally at Orange or Dubbo. 

“This enhancement to the District’s cancer care network is already providing benefits for patients across the entire region of Western NSW, not just people in Orange and Dubbo,” Mr Park said. 

“Patients from rural and remote areas like Cobar, Condobolin and Grenfell have already safely received treatment much closer to home, significantly reducing the time and cost required to travel outside the District for care.” 

Dr Patrick Horsley, WNSWLHD Radiation Oncologist, said stereotactic radiosurgery is a very precise form of treatment which improves patient comfort and can result in fewer side effects than conventional radiation therapy techniques. 

“Stereotactic radiosurgery uses high doses of radiation through targeted beams, safely destroying small tumors in the brain with a level of precision that spares the surrounding, healthy brain tissue from any significant dose of radiation,” Dr Worsley said. 

“The sophistication of this technology allows us to deliver treatment in just one session and with no surgical incisions which, importantly, means our patients can begin recovery sooner. 

“Having this treatment available locally breaks down barriers like geographic isolation. It allows us to reach more patients across a broader area, which will help us significantly improve health outcomes across our District.” 

John Adams, from Blayney, was one of the first patients to receive stereotactic surgery treatment at Orange and said he was thrilled to be able to receive treatment just 30 minutes from home. 

“It is so much better to have this treatment locally. It saves the stress and cost of being away from home, and means I can have my family around to support me during my treatment, which is great,” Mr Adams said. 

Forbes Medicine & Mind is a multi-disciplinary family practice in Forbes that was Opened in 2018 after a full and complete refurbishment of the 12 Cross st address to transform it into a medical practice. 

Managing Director Courtney Hodges said “After 12 months of trading, COVID-19 hit. We went straight into COVID then for three years and we pretty much came up for air and then Forbes flooded”. 

During the November 2022 floods the practice had water enter the property and rise 40cm inside, just enough to ruin everything, electrical, cabling, floors, All the gyprock needed to come out, so the building was going to need a full repaint. 

“We had literally fully refurbished this place in 2018, spent several hundreds of thousands of dollars fitting it out, for it to all need to be redone four years later. It was a massive blow and displaced us for six months, during that time we operated from the Boys to the Bush building here. They were really generous and had some rooms available that they let us move into while we renovated” said Courtney. 

Dr Richard Draper was recently awarded the RACGP GP of the Year award. The award is great as it recognises Dr Draper’s contribution to the local community during the floods, but Courtney says “for us it’s bigger than that, Richard is a born and bred, Parkes local, he has practiced for 30 years in the Central West as a solo practitioner, he is so dedicated to his community that he worked from his kitchen bench during the floods”. Richard is hoping to use the recognition from the award to “shine a light on the massive blind spot that our government has around primary care, because general practitioners are funded by the federal government, but natural disasters are state funded, so for GP’s there has been no support” , said Courtney. 

“We are in a rural community where we can’t attract doctors to our town, the doctors that are here are really on the edge of burnout, and we’ve had to pull money out of our Superannuations so that we can rebuild and go again, so that we can deliver a community service, because we are a private organisation, there was/is no support” 

So far the practice has only been able to access the same $50,000 business grant that was available to all other businesses affected during the flood, but shockingly, no further support. Dr Draper said “I basically pumped my retirement into rebuilding this place. I’d really love for the government to realise that we are an essential service to Forbes and put my super back, and Courtney’s super too”. 

Dr Draper had no idea he had been nominated for the GP of the Year award and said he was “Genuinely stunned”, and is hoping in the next 12 months to use his recognition as GP of the Year recipient to say “this is not good enough”. 

 

 

 

This is a moment of reflection for Australia.

While the referendum result is not the one Beyond Blue had hoped for, we remain hopeful that all Australians want to heal divisions and create a better future together.

First Nations peoples are nearly three times more likely to be psychologically distressed than other Australians, and twice as likely to die by suicide. Racism and exclusion harm mental health and wellbeing.

As the national depression and anxiety initiative, Beyond Blue is guided by evidence. For First Nations peoples, the research clearly shows that social and emotional wellbeing is strengthened when self-determination is at the heart of decision-making. That’s why we supported the Voice and believe a First Nations community-led approach to mental health will lead to better outcomes.

The referendum result will be distressing, particularly for many First Nations peoples.

We want to reassure everyone that Beyond Blue is available with free, immediate mental health advice and support for everyone. However you voted, whatever your views, Beyond Blue is here for you. Crisis support from First Nations counsellors is available from 13 YARN.

As we emerge from this chapter in our nation’s story, we must maintain hope that a better future is possible. That this was not our only chance at healing.

Beyond Blue will not waiver in our advocacy and our support for better mental health for First Nations peoples, standing proudly as allies in the ongoing pursuit of equality, inclusion and reconciliation.

We remain committed to the Uluru Statement from the Heart and open to its generous and dignified invitation to walk with First Nations peoples towards a better future.

An estimated 69 thousand new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in Australian women each year, and almost 20 thousand are diagnosed with breast cancer, the most common cancer impacting females across the country. 

Flannery’s Pharmacy Forbes will be shining a spotlight on these staggering statistics this October, as the store turns pink to raise funds, and awareness, for women’s cancers. 

Proceeds will go towards the National Breast Cancer Foundation, the McGrath Foundation, and the Cancer Council. 

Throughout October, there will be a range of events the community can support, including: 

Treats for Teats (October 17) the team will be hosting a huge bake sale for customers and surrounding businesses. 

Sausage Sizzle (October 24) swing by the store for a lunchtime sausage sandwich and show your support for Pinktober. 

Ladies Night (Thursday, October 26) the team will host a panel featuring an LPG pharmacist, physiotherapist, naturopath, and doctor in an event designed to provide women with a chance to ask all female-health related questions. There will also be giveaways, raffles, drinks, and nibbles. 

“We want the women in the Forbes district to feel supported and know they have services, and experts available, in their local community, every day, not just throughout the month of October. 

“If you’re wandering past Flannery’s Pharmacy over the coming weeks, come in and have a chat, don’t be afraid to ask questions. We’re here to help. And if you just want to offer a dollar or two for support, we’d love that as well” Pharmacist, Tracey Edwards, said. 

All Pinktober events will be held at Flannery’s Pharmacy, 99-101 Rankin Street, Forbes, NSW. 

Australian farmers are seeking mental health support at almost twice the rate they were seeking assistance last year, according to trusted rural charity, Rural Aid. 

In the past two months, Rural Aid counsellors have conducted 277 counselling sessions, a 95 per cent increase compared to the same period last year. 

Rural Aid’s counselling helpline is currently fielding an average of 13 calls each day from primary producers. 

Rural Aid’s Manager of Mental Health and Wellbeing, Myf Pitcher, said the range of topics that farmers are worried about has also recently widened. 

“Our farmers have moved from states of stress to states of desperation,” Myf said. 

Sheep and cattle farmer Ron Dooley said the Rural Aid counselling service helped him get through a difficult time after the Black Summer bushfires. 

“I had a bit of a mishap when I was fighting the front of the fire. I couldn’t see where I was going and I ran into a dam wall and stalled the tractor with the flames coming through the bottom of the tractor,” Ron said. 

“After talking with Darren from Rural Aid, he [helped me to make] some decisions on what to do when feeling like that, and it did help,” Ron said. 

Rural Aid counsellors catch up with their farmers where they’re most comfortable; whether it’s on farm, in town, or over the phone. 

Contact Rural Aid’s counselling intake line on 1300 175 594.