Adolescents, adults, and their families and friends in Ku-ring-gai are assured continued access to mental health supports for personality disorders, as staff in the Northern Sydney Local Health District are set to receive more training about the condition.

Member for Ku-ring-gai, Alister Henskens SC MP, announced the extra training was part of the NSW Government’s further investment of $5.5 million in the Project Air Strategy.

“This is great news for people in Ku-ring-gai who live with a personality disorder and it is great news for those close to them who are often impacted and need support too,” said Mr Henskens.

“There are young people in our community who require this specialised treatment and I’m very pleased that Project Air will continue to help people in Ku-ring-gai, with more booster training for our medical staff and the opportunity for them to join the newly established ‘Air Academy’.”

The Project Air Strategy ensures earlier diagnoses of a personality disorder while also reducing the time spent in hospital due to access to more tailored treatments. This latest announcement will facilitate the expansion of the strategy to all health districts in NSW. 

Mr Henskens said that the NSW Government’s overall investment in the Project Air Strategy will now be more than $11 million since 2011. 

There are several types of personality disorders including borderline, antisocial, narcissistic and obsessive-compulsive, with treatment often involving evidence-based psychological therapy to help the person understand their feelings and improve their relationships.

Minister for Mental Health, the Honourable Tanya Davies MP, said people experiencing a personality disorder represent about 25 per cent of mental health presentations to emergency departments and admissions to the State’s mental health inpatient units. 

“Often these people arrive to the hospital in distress, and we are seeing this unique project significantly reduce presentations to Emergency Departments and shorten hospital stays, because the right help is getting to people faster,” Mrs Davies said.

The project is the result of a collaboration between the NSW Government and the University of Wollongong and includes:

• Ongoing training for health staff on managing affected people and carers;
• The Gold Card Clinic initiative to help consumers move from emergency departments, to treatment in the community; and
• The establishment of ongoing resources for health professionals via the ‘Air Academy’ and online resources for families and carers.  
   

  If you, or someone you know, needs crisis support phone Lifeline 13 11 14. For more information about Project Air Strategy and for resources about personality disorders visit www.projectairstrategy.org.