What is the Brighter Days Program?

The Brighter Days Program is a FREE program delivering evidence-based mental health support and brief therapeutic intervention for people experiencing mild to moderate mental health challenges and obstacles in accessing psychological treatment. The program provides support to people living on the Central Coast and the Upper Hunter area.

Mental health support will be delivered by trained and qualified mental health professionals (e.g. Psychologists, Counsellors, Mental Health Social Workers, Mental Health Nurses) with up to 12 sessions which can either be face to face, online or by phone.

Eligibility 

Beam provides the Brighter Days program to people living within the Central Coast and Upper Hunter regions and gives priority to people that experience financial hardship and have difficulties/barriers in accessing mental health treatment in the Primary Care sector including but not limited to: 

  • First Nations people
  • Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities
  • Older people that are isolated and/or living alone
  • People who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or intersex (LGBTI) for who stigma and lack of appropriate services may provide barriers to care 
  • People with disabilities
  • People experiencing homelessness, or who are at risk of homelessness
  • People living in rural and remote communities
  • Individuals at risk of, or who have self- harmed, attempted suicide or who have suicidal ideation, and can be appropriately managed in the primary health care setting
  • People living in communities affected by natural disasters (i.e., drought, floods, and bushfires)

How Can I Get Support

Contact your local GP and ask for them to complete a Mental Health Care Plan.  If you meet the Brighter Days criteria your GP will send through your referral to the Hunter Primary Care referral portal.

Once your referral has been received by Beam one of our friendly intake team members will be in contact with you to organise your first appointment with one of our skilled clinicians.  You will then receive either a confirmation text or email in regards to your appointment and further instructions on where to find our clinic.

Therapy Delivery Method

The Brighter Days Program can be delivered in a number of different ways that is most suitable for you:

  • Face to Face appointment
  • Online appointment
  • Phone Call appointment

Number and Length of Sessions 

Clients have up to 12 sessions available per calendar year – each session is a 50 minute appointment. 

Our Locations 

West Gosford – Riverside Park Office Tower, Suite 1.1, Level 1 69 Central Coast Highway, West Gosford NSW 2250 

Tuggerah – Suite 8, 1 Pioneer Avenue, Tuggerah NSW 2259 

How Do I Refer My Patients?

GP’s are able to go directly to the Primary Mental Health Access and Referral Service (PRIMA) referral form HERE

FAQ

50 mins per session

Up to12 session per calendar year

No, but you will need a mental health care plan from your GP

Our clinician will support you in identifying pathways for getting extra support if this is required post 12 sessions. Our clinicians are skilled in identifying clients needs and linking to additional supports if required.

You can book your appointments at the front desk with our Reception team who will support you in finding a suitable time and day that works best for you. Otherwise, you can contact us here via phone call at Beam services to book your next appointment.

This will be determined by yourself and the clinician you’re working with. Our team will work to find a suitable time frame to suit your needs and therapy goals.

Our Brighter days service is a free of charge psychological support service.

No, we have a strict confidentiality policy- we ask to share your information with your referring GP to ensure we are best supporting you to get your needs met. There are times when there are limits to this. This will be discussed with you in your first session together.

We offer face to face, phone call and telehealth appointments.

If you need to cancel we can support you in rescheduling your appointment, we ask for 24 hrs notice. We have a strict cancellation policy- if clients cancel short notice/ don’t attend three session within the program they will be either discharged from the program or placed back on the waitlist. However, we will give you the means of how to get ongoing support.

We have a range of experienced and skilled clinicians available to support you in the therapeutic process including; counsellors, social workers, mental health nurses and psychologists available

This Brighter Days Program is supported by funding from the Hunter New England and Central Coast Primary Health Network (the PHN) through the Australian Government’s PHN Program