Expanded mental illness personal helpers and mentors program
Posted
by DPS
Jenny Macklin, Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs has announced that the Australian Government will double the reach of the Personal Helpers and Mentors program, expanding the number of sites from 76 to 155 to deliver more services to people with a severe mental illness.
The program expansion will cost close to $100 million creating approximately 400 full-time equivalent positions across the country.
People can refer themselves to the program, their families and carers can encourage them to join or they can be referred to the program by a local health or community organisation.
So far more than 3,400 people have joined the program.
It is expected that new services will begin from April 2009.
