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.