The Transcultural Mental Health Centre's 24 Hour Counselling Service was established in September 2001 to provide support and counselling for CALD people in NSW who were adversely affected by the aftermath of the September 11 American crisis. The Service is structured with a seven day on-call roster covering the period from 5.00pm to 8.30am each weekday and for 24 hour periods on the weekend.
The service has at its disposal over 134 TMHC sessional clinicians who are utilised for telephone counselling if needed, or who provide subsequent face to face counselling and assessments.
The Service was again provided following the Bali bombings in 2002 and at the end of 2004 as a result of the earthquake and tsunami in the Indian Ocean and the ensuing devastation for people who were experiencing adverse psychological effects following these disasters.
As there are large communities from NSW from the tsunami affected countries, including Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka and India it was important that the Centre offer psychological and emotional support to people who lost loved ones and suffered devastation in their country of origin. The service was also extended for groups in the community through a number of community education sessions.
