Connections outreach mental health program
Identifying goals and strengths through tailored support in your recovery journey
Connections is an outreach mental health program that provides individual and group support to Tasmanians with serious, ongoing mental health issues to maintain and improve their mental health and wellbeing.
Supported by Primary Health Tasmania under the Australian Government’s Primary Health Networks Program, Connections is designed to deliver the Tasmanian Continuity of Support program for people transitioning from previous Partners in Recovery, Personal Helpers and Mentors and Day 2 Day LivingPrograms – which ceased on 1 July 2019.
The program focusses on working with individuals to identify their goals and strengths, and use this understanding to work together to develop tailored individual plans of support. Connections aims to empower individuals throughout their recovery journey to build their skills and capacity to live independently.
Support for family and friends
As part of our Connections program, we can further support the family and friends of our clients by connecting them with a peer worker who has a similar experience of a loved one with mental health concerns. Family and friends peer workers can:
- share their own experiences, insight and valuable, practical ideas
- listen, encourage and help to empower
- support you to navigate systems and access available supports
- provide opportunities to connect with other carers so you can share experiences
- help manage emotional and physical wellbeing
- help find information to better understand a loved one’s diagnosis and needs
- simply be there as a peer
- be aware of other support programs
Stay well and live well in the community
The goals that people identify, allows them to focus on anything that is important right now, to ensure they can stay well and live well in the community. Goals could include: finding and keeping a home, building social/ community networks, developing employment skills, managing money and budgeting, staying fit and healthy, or building skills to manage social and emotional wellbeing.
The program can work solely with the individual, or include other friends, family or support people that a person chooses to have involved in the process. This approach enables support that is person-centred, and focussed on identifying and maintaining people’s networks of support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is this program for?
Connections is only open to people living with serious, ongoing mental health issues who were working with Personal Helpers and Mentors Service (PHaMs); Partners in Recovery (PIR) and Day-To-Day Living Program (D2DL) on 30 June 2019, and are ineligible for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
The program is available state-wide across Tasmania.
Do you offer support to family and friends?
As part of all Mindset Tasmania programs (including Connections), we reach out to the family and friends of the people we support. Our Family and Friends Peer Worker has their own lived experience of caring for a loved one with mental health issues. They offer understanding about the challenges faced, and can help family and friends access needed supports and resources.
Supported by Primary Health Tasmania under the Australian Government’s Primary Health Networks Program.
Mindset TAS mental health & wellbeing programs
Baptcare Mindset TAS
Nationally accredited mental health & wellbeing programs
Mindset Tasmania delivers a range of psychosocial programs across Tasmania that build people’s capacity to improve their mental health head-on and make progress towards their recovery. Mental Health Practitioners and Peer Workers use evidence-informed practices and work with clients collaboratively to identify goals and remove barriers to living the life they want to lead.
Feedback and complaints
Baptcare wants to help you to know about your rights. You have the right to tell us what you think about the services you are receiving from Baptcare. We want to hear about your experience with Baptcare, good or bad, so we can provide you the best support possible. If you have ideas on how we can improve, let us know!