Help when you need it
People with mental health challenges, their families and communities continually advise that there are many barriers to accessing appropriate mental health support at the right time, and especially during a crisis.
Emergency Departments remain heavily impacted by presentations from people seeking mental health support, despite best efforts they are unable to provide a suitable response and an environment conducive to crisis resolution, dignified risk-taking, healing and recovery.
There are many recent developments that attempt to provide a more easily accessed and acceptable response during times of crisis but there is still much more that we could do to make seeking help both safe and effective.
This forum will explore some of the best examples of services that are making a difference and that elevate lived experience to shape service delivery and care. We will also look at examples that are fully integrated into the community and which provide incidental and very low stigma access to immediate help.
Join us as we hear from consumers, carers, funders and service providers on what makes a good crisis response and be part of a co-design process to generate ideas for improvement that will be presented to a panel of leading mental health proponents for carriage and action.
Event details
Why attend?
Practical insights, real-world perspectives, and meaningful cross-sector conversation on urgent and crisis mental health support.
Design Decoded
The design for the TheMHS Sydney Forum 2026 was inspired by the Friendship Bench, a powerful example of how hope, connection and support can be created through simple, human-centred responses. Originating in Zimbabwe, the Friendship Bench reimagines mental health care as something accessible, relational and grounded in community. This concept has informed a visual and thematic approach that foregrounds warmth, dignity and inclusion, reflecting our shared belief that meaningful connection and hope can emerge when people are met where they are.
Register to attend
Secure your place at this one-day forum dedicated to improving urgent and crisis mental health support. Registration includes access to all sessions, networking opportunities, and post-event resources.
Speakers
A diverse group of speakers across urgent mental health care, crisis response, policy, lived experience, and community-based support.
Mental Health Commission of NSW
Mental Health Carers NSW Inc
Sydney North Health Network
Be part of the conversation
Join a focused day dedicated to strengthening urgent and crisis mental health support — ensuring help is available when it is needed most.
Register now