May 13, 2020

Northfields Psychology Clinic offers online consultations to support mental health needs of community

Services include wellbeing support for university students and HSC skills and study program

The University of Wollongong’s (UOW) Northfields Psychology Clinic is now offering all consultations online and free of charge in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

An evidence-based teaching, research, and community clinic, Northfields Psychology Clinic has been providing mental health services to the Illawarra community for more than 35 years. This includes support services for families and children via Northfields at Early Start.

With government restrictions impacting on the ability of Northfields Psychology Clinic psychologists to provide face-to-face consultations, the clinic made the decision to move its services online and offer consultations at no cost.

Northfields Clinic has also responded to the pandemic with programs tailored to help university students who may be struggling with the impacts of COVID-19.

There will be a free two-hour webinar held on Thursday 14 May as well as a three-week group program, each focused on helping students with their mental health and overall wellbeing as they respond to the changes brought on by these unprecedented circumstances.

Professor Peter Caputi, Head of UOW’s School of Psychology, said the clinic was responding to the needs of the community at a time when mental health support services were more important than ever.

“Northfields plays an essential role in helping people throughout the community, across all age groups, dealing with mental health concerns. If anything, the coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated those mental health concerns, including anxiety and depression,” Professor Caputi said.

“We are ensuring that we still able to reach those who need our services with high-quality and affordable mental health support. It is not only current patients but for those who might feel they need some additional help during this time.

“We want to help the community to come through this crisis and emerge out the other side without compromising their mental health and wellbeing.”

Northfields Psychology Clinic is also running a HSC Wellbeing and Study Skills Program, which is also fully online and free, to help Year 12 students to overcome their exam stress, manage performance anxiety, set goals, and focus on effective study.

The program is running throughout the year so students are able to access it whenever they feel it is needed.

To access support services at Northfields Psychology Clinic, contact (02) 4221 3747 or nfc-uow@uow.edu.au.

For further information about the HSC Wellbeing and Study Skills Program or Coping with COVID-19 for university students, visit: https://www.uow.edu.au/social-sciences/schools-entities/psychology/northfields/