Joondalup Community Mental Health

May 6, 2022
Community Mental Health

Neami Joondalup is a short-term support service for people with a mental illness, to prevent hospital admission or support early discharge from hospital. We also assist people to transition back into the community after inpatient care.

The service is not a replacement for acute inpatient care but an option that can prevent the need for hospitalisation, when people are aware they are becoming unwell.

We are a 22 bed facility offering 24-hour support and a range of individual and group rehabilitation and recovery programs. Clinical supports are available as required.

Neami Joondalup is available to anyone living in Western Australia with a mental illness diagnosis.

Features of our service include:

Tennis court and bicycles
Recreation room for yoga, crafts and games
Communal and quiet shared spaces
Outdoor BBQ area
Communal kitchen
Private laundry facilities
Ensuite bathrooms

The service is managed by a multi-disciplinary team of rehabilitation and peer support workers. Nursing staff are on site 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The average stay is 2-4 weeks. Each individual is assessed and monitored during that time.

Individual work

Neami works with you to reduce distress from mental illness and to avoid admission or re-admission to acute inpatient hospital care.

We work with you in the following areas:

Assessing your immediate and long-term needs
Monitoring your safety and wellbeing
Development of a relapse prevention plan
Liaison with clinical services, carers and the community
Referrals to community supports upon leaving
Development of exit plans and facilitating family involvement where appropriate

Group work - Optimal Health Program

The main group program we provide is the Optimal Health Program, which focuses on the areas of:

Symptom recognition
Monitoring early warning signs
Developing an action plan to support
- Daily coping skills
- Managing symptoms and medication
- Relapse prevention planning
Understanding of stress, vulnerability and coping
Maintaining wellness and overall health

The Optimal Health Program begins in a group setting but recognises that recovery is an individual process.

Staff assist individuals to meet their personal goals.

Eligibility

To be eligible for Neami Joondalup you must be:

Aged 16-64 and eligible for mental health services
Able to engage co-operatively in a group setting and willing to participate in the Optimal Health Program
Not using illicit substances/drugs or alcohol during their time with the service
Have stable and onging accommodation
AND
Exhibiting early warning signs of acute mental illness and requiring increased support and treatment to prevent hospital admission
OR
Requiring additional support following an acute inpatient admission to support a transition back into the community and avoid re-admission

Referrals

Referrals can be made directly to Neami Joondalup by the consumers treating clinician or GP as well as community mental health services, with the consent of the individual.