Mental health

Sometimes the pressures of life and work can get too much and you need advice, direction or just someone to speak to. Positive mental health allows you to lead a more enriched life and perform better at work.  Please check out the Wellbeing, Health and Safety Sharepoint site for current initiatives, information and resources and see below for further mental health support.

Coping with uncertainty

Employee assistance program

A professional and confidential counselling service is offered to UON staff and their families for both personal and work related issues.

Mental Health First Aid Officer Register

The University is committed to providing a psychologically safe and healthy place to work and study. That means raising awareness around mental illness and good mental health, preventing ill health by identifying psychological risk and providing support and a safe environment to recover from mental illness.

The Mental Health First Aid Officer Register, is list of accredited University staff that can be contacted as a confidential peer support for initial contact, assistance and referral to internal and external supports.

Officers can be contacted within business hours (9-5pm). EAP should be contacted out of hours for assistance and support.

Support for managers and supervisors

Manager Assist Service supporting positive leadership, provided by the EAP provider NewPsych.

Ourimbah Campus - Additional Counselling Service

Pauline Brown, Registered Psychologist, is available as a bulk billing service for staff on the central coast campus. Staff will need a referral from either the campus or their own GP, and a Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP).

The GP needs to initially refer for 6 sessions, and then a further 4 after review and communication with the GP. This is no gap service, but a refundable $50 CASH deposit is required when to make your initial appointment. To make an appointment, please take your MHTP or GP referral letter to the Health Service located in the Student Support Unit on the Central Coast campus (adjacent to the Library).

Counselling via Victims Services

Free counselling is available for victims of a crime occurring within NSW. This includes Family and Domestic Violence or witnessing a death or criminal act, and burden of evidence is not required.

Initial approval can start at 22 sessions after a phone discussion and form completion, being able to choose from a list of Registered Psychologists funded locally, with this service.

Mental Health Month - October

Activities and resources for Mental Health Month.

R U OK? Day

A conversation could change a life, see R U OK? at work for resources.

Meditation video

Meditation is a skill which enables you to sooth the mind and relax the body. View our meditation video to feel better.

Beyond Blue

Beyond Blue offers a range of resources for positive mental health in the workplace for employees including how to take care of yourself staying or returning to work and working with a mental health condition. In addition, there are also resources for supervisors covering tips on supporting team members, how to have conversations, information on different mental health conditions as well as tips on how to look after yourself.

The workplace mental health awareness module will help you learn about how to identify depression and how to get help.

Everymind and LifeSpan Newcastle

Suicide prevention education and training

Additional Resources