Newcastle private hospitals introduce new tools for patients
For people living with mental illness, connecting with a medical professional is one of the most positive steps they can take. But that first step can often be the hardest.
Two private hospitals in the Newcastle region have introduced a tool to help make that first conversation easier.
Maitland and Toronto Private Hospitals now offer online forms on their respective websites that can easily connect people directly with their mental health units.
"We understand that it is sometimes difficult for patients to reach out for help for themselves, and some find it particularly difficult to verbalise these feelings. Our new online enquiry form was designed to give patients swift and reliable access to our intake coordinators so that we can arrange an inpatient or day program admission as soon as possible," said a spokesperson from the mental health team at Maitland Private Hospital.
"The online enquiry form has also been designed to be accessed by people enquiring on behalf of family or friends, as it is regularly support people who reach out to us for help.
LINKED: A new online form will help patients access mental health intake coordiators. Photo: Shutterstock
"Additionally, our new online referral form streamlines the referral process for general practitioners who require prompt admissions for patients requiring mental health support. Just a few fields to complete in our form and the referral is sent straight to our team to arrange admission."
Both hospitals offer voluntary mental health facilities, with programs ranging from six to 26 weeks.
Toronto Private has also introduced a new treatment called Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) to the Hunter region. The therapy involves using a magnet to target and stimulate certain areas of the brain, and has already proven to be particularly effective for patients, including those who have tried a range of antidepressant medications without success.
With Mental Health Month coming up in October, the two hospitals are also using art to help tackle mental health.
Maitland Private Hospital runs an annual art competition, where winning entries are used for a calendar with proceeds from sales donated to mental illness not for profit ARAFMI Hunter, while Toronto Private Hospital runs an annual art show. Both are open to anyone who currently has or has previously experienced a mental health illness.
CEO of Toronto Private Hospital Jason Thomas said he had seen the achievements of patients who attend the hospital's therapy classes and wanted to offer this therapy to the wider community.
"Art therapy is becoming an increasingly popular way to help people cope with challenges and stress and speed up the recovery process," he said.
