BY RACHEL STORER
Hunter Primary Care has launched two new health services: an Indigenous mental health program and a drug and alcohol treatment service.
The Yudhilidin program serves to link Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders suffering from severe mental illnesses to the appropriate services.
The new drug and alcohol counselling service will be targeted at anyone with mild to moderate substance disorders.
CEO of Hunter Primary Care Dr Kevin Sweeney says he is pleased with the two new services and believes they will bridge existing gaps.
He said there is a number of drug and alcohol services in the Hunter region, however, it can be confusing trying to decipher exactly what services they are offering.
"There certainly has been a gap in the middle area of providing high quality, evidence-based, psychosocial counselling for people with a drug and alcohol problem," Dr Sweeney said.
"The Yudhilidin program is unique as there isn't an equivalent service in existence, but again there is an identified gap for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with severe mental illness," he said.
The new services have been launched thanks to a funding boost of more than $1.3 million provided by the Federal government.
