Doctor speaks of mental health service

Local Rotary Clubs and Cental Coast Health (CCH) jointly hosted a mental health expo at Woy Woy Leagues Club on March 19.

Approximately 70 people attended the expo to hear about aged care and its relationship to mental health.

Dr John Dobrohotoff, CCH old age psychiatrist and manager of Older Persons' Mental Health Service, spoke to the gathered group along with other CCH staff, directors and managers.

"Woy Woy was made famous by Spike Milligan, who spent a lot of his time promoting mental health, as he suffered with serious mental illness for much of his life," said Dr Dobrohotoff.

"He was a great example of someone who was able to be extremely successful despite the difficulties he faced."

Answering questions, Dr Dobrohotoff said: "One of the recent things we've done is to have people allocated to specific areas, so we have some of our staff focus on a particular area, such as the Peninsula."

These staff would get to know what local services were available in areas such as the Peninsula.

"The Community Health Centre in Woy Woy has psychiatrists, social workers, psychologists, and community mental health nurses all supported by administrative staff.

"There is also some input from occupational threapists."

Other topics covered at the expo were ageing and health, the role of the Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT), dementia services in the community, and the carer respite centre.

The general inquiries number for mental health services is 4320 3170 and the central intake number for patients is 4320 3500.

Jonathan Reichard, March 19