Annual report

In the Upper Hunter region of NSW, 49-year-old Scone local, Michele, has faced more challenges in her life than most will. From childhood trauma to struggles with mental health and addiction, her journey has not been easy. But this year, with the help of Social Futures, she is walking a path toward recovery and healing.

Michele’s mental health was at rock bottom

“I’ve tried to get help for years,” Michele shared. “I’ve seen five or six psychologists before, but I never found the right one. Moving back to Scone, I was in a really bad place. My mental health was at rock bottom. I’d tried to take my own life multiple times, and I just didn’t know where to turn.”

Integrated support offering from Social Futures

Michele’s turning point came in January when her doctor referred her to Social Futures. She accessed three programs:

• Care Connect, a service for those at risk of, or who have previously attempted suicide;
• the Muswellbrook Medicare Mental Health Centre, where she receives therapy;
• and The Bridge, which supports people with drug and alcohol addiction.

Care Connect workers like Team Leader Aanaminda Makeig walk beside people who have previously attempted suicide or who are at risk of suicide, and help them determine what it is they need to feel socially connected and mentally well. Workers provide practical, emotional and social support, and Aanaminda says Michele has been on an incredible journey to where she has found herself again.

“When I first met Michele, she was teary and was self-harming quite extensively. To go from that sense of hopelessness to that sense of safety, to no longer have thoughts of suicide and to now being able to address the challenges that led her to that dark place through counselling and accessing other services is a great achievement.”

With the opening of services such as Medicare Mental Health Centre and The Bridge, people in the Hunter Region now have access to additional supports including therapy, and access to a support navigator, peer workers and counsellors.

“This means people are supported to make meaningful change, not just a short-term response to one aspect of recovery, but with a whole suite of services that can support people through a range of challenges – this is a game changer,” Aanaminda said.

A safe place to start

Michele vividly remembers her first day at the Medicare Mental Health Centre.

“I was so nervous. I didn’t even want to walk through the doors. I was numb, completely washed out. I didn’t care about anything.”

A trusted support worker from another service accompanied her to the intake meeting, which helped ease her anxiety.

That first meeting was overwhelming, but it marked the beginning of a new chapter. Michele was paired with Sandy, a Mental Health Clinician who would become a pivotal figure in her recovery.

“Sandy was amazing. She really listened to me and helped me feel like I wasn’t just another number. Within three weeks, I started noticing a change in myself.”

Facing addiction with courage

During her sessions with Sandy, Michele opened up about her struggles with drug addiction.

“I started using ice. I thought it would help me cope with my relationship at the time, but it only made things worse,” she admitted.

With support from Sandy and Sophie, a Peer Support Worker at The Bridge who has lived experience with addiction, Michele began attending Narcotics Anonymous meetings and exploring detox options.

“Hearing Sophie’s story made me feel like I wasn’t alone. It was sad to hear, but it also gave me hope.”

Michele’s journey with addiction is ongoing, but she has made significant progress.

“I’ve cut back a lot. I’m trying to go cold turkey because I really want my own place, and I want to move in drug-free. It’s hard, but I know I can do it.”

Rebuilding confidence and finding herself

One of the most profound changes Michele has experienced is rediscovering her sense of self.

“For years, I didn’t know who I was. I’d lost my identity,” she said.

But now with support, she’s started to rebuild her confidence.

“I started dressing the way I used to, wearing my jewellery and makeup again, and taking care of myself. I even go to the hairdresser now. I’ve found my voice, and I stand up for myself. I don’t let people walk all over me anymore.”

Michele has also learned valuable tools to manage her mental health.

“Sandy taught me that if something is out of my control, I don’t need to stress about it. I’ve learned to walk away from situations that frustrate me instead of letting them escalate.”

A new outlook on life

Even during a recent breakup, Michele’s mental health remained stable—a stark contrast to how she might have reacted in the past.

Michele credits much of her progress to the support she received from Social Futures.

“I couldn’t tell you the last time I thought about hurting myself. It’s been months,” she said.

“I didn’t know how much help was out there until I went to Medicare Mental Health. There’s so much support, and I’ve even shared their number with friends who need help.”

Michele’s journey isn’t over, but she’s optimistic about the future. She’s considering volunteering to support others walking the journey from addiction to recovery.

“If I can help just one person, it would be worth it. I want to show people that it’s possible to climb out of that black hole and have a happy life.”

Reflecting on her progress, Michele said,

“I’ve done a 180-degree turn for the good. There’s still a long way to go, but I know I can do it. I’m not ashamed of my mental health or my past. I’m proud of how far I’ve come.

“Don’t give up. There’s help out there, and it can change your life.”

At just 16 years old, South Gundurimba-based Leon is making an impact in the mental health space, advocating for a youth voice as part of a headspace Youth Advisory Group.

It was 2022 when he first sought counselling at headspace, a national youth mental health service, delivered in Lismore, Ballina and Tweed Heads by not-for-profit Social Futures.

“It didn’t feel like a mental health institution,” he says. “It was just a nice, calm place where I could talk.”

Leon’s experience with headspace didn’t just help him personally, it opened the door to something bigger. Toward the end of his sessions, he was introduced to the Youth Advisory Group (YAG). Initially hesitant, Leon decided to give it a try. “

At first, I joined just as something to do,” he admits. “But I ended up loving it. It’s really helped me grow.”

A way to have a say

The Youth Advisory Group is a collective of young people aged between 16 and 25 years who advocate for youth mental health and work to make their community more inclusive. For Leon, being the youngest member of the group has been both a challenge and an opportunity.

“Before I joined, I was really shy. I would never have been able to talk in front of a camera or share my ideas in a group,” he said. “But now, I feel confident. I can speak up, share ideas, and even talk in front of a media camera. It’s been amazing for my social skills.”

Leon is passionate about giving young people a voice in decisions that affect them.

“A lot of the time, decisions are made by older people,” he explains. “But it’s important for young people to have a say. We’re the ones living through these challenges, and we know what needs to change.”

The YAG group has been involved in a variety of projects aimed at improving the lives of young people in the Northern Rivers region. A standout event was a treasure hunt designed to engage the community and bring young people together in a fun way. They’ve also played a key role in consultations for the new headspace office in Ballina, providing input on everything from colour schemes to how the space could feel more welcoming for young people.

“It’s great to be part of decisions that make a real difference,” Leon says. “We’re helping create spaces where young people feel safe and supported.”

The group also organises events like barbecues and brainstorming sessions to connect with the community and generate ideas for improving youth mental health services.

“It’s all about giving young people a voice,” Leon explains.

Challenging times for Northern Rivers young people

Leon is no stranger to the struggles his generation faces. From the isolation of COVID-19 to the devastating floods in Lismore, he’s seen how these events have shaped the mental health of his peers.

“It’s been a strange way to spend your teenage years,” he reflects. “Online learning during COVID made me feel so detached from the world. And just as things were getting better, the floods came and flattened everything. A lot of people that I know have a lot of trauma; they have been through quite dramatic experiences.

“Lismore was like a ghost town after the flood. It’s getting a bit livelier now, but there’s still more to do to make it more welcoming for young people. So, we try to brainstorm ideas for events at our meetings, and we do things like put on free BBQs and things.”

He also points out the stigma that still surrounds mental health.

“It’s definitely improving, but there are still people who treat it as something weird or something to avoid,” he says. “That kind of attitude can make it so much harder for young people to seek help.”

For Leon, seeking support was a turning point. He encourages other young people to take that first step, even if it feels daunting.

“There’s no risk to it,” he says. “If you don’t like it, you don’t have to keep going. But just talking to someone can make such a difference.”

He also highlights the accessibility of headspace.

“It’s free, which makes it so much easier for anyone who’s struggling to find someone to talk to,” he explains. “Even if there’s no immediate solution, just being able to share your problems is so important.”

Space for what matters

As part of National headspace Day 2025, Leon reflects on the importance of making space for the things that bring joy and calm. For him, that’s music.

“I play the drums and I’m learning bass,” he says. “Music helps me focus and lets me let out all my energy. It’s something I can do just for me, without worrying about messing up.”

Leon believes that finding low-stakes, relaxing activities is crucial for mental wellbeing.

“It doesn’t have to be music,” he says. “It could be drawing, painting, or even a colouring book. Just something that lets you unwind and not stress.”

Leon says his experience with headspace and the Youth Advisory Group has shaped his perspective on mental health and the importance of advocacy.

“It’s made me realise that mental health looks different for everyone,” he says. “We need to create spaces where people feel safe to be themselves and get the support they need.”

As he continues volunteering with YAG, Leon is hopeful for the future of youth mental health.

“I think things are getting better,” he says. “The stigma is lifting, and more people are starting to understand that mental health is just as important as physical health. We just need to keep spreading the word.”

For young people hesitant to reach out, his message is simple:

“There’s no harm in trying. Just go for it.”

Forty-year-old Nathan from Clarence Town says he probably wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for a chance meeting with Paula, a Care Connect Program Worker, in a hospital elevator.  

Nathan spent three months in a regional NSW hospital when he was diagnosed with FND, Functional Neurological Disease.  

“Literally, I woke up one morning, and I couldn’t move my whole left arm. I couldn’t turn my head to the left. And yeah, it took three months to diagnose it and to get my arm working again,” Nathan said.  

During his stay in hospital, he was trying to come to terms with his health condition, but Nathan also struggled with anxiety, stress, and isolation. Without family or friends close, he says he found himself in an impossibly dark place. When he then lost his home due to his prolonged absence in hospital Nathan said,

“It felt like my whole world was coming down. I won’t lie, if it wasn’t for Paula, I think things might have went a different way, because I kept asking for support while I was in hospital. I never got it. It was just that chance meeting with her one day in a lift at the hospital, and everything literally just turned around.” 

Paula works for Social Futures Care Connect Program, an after-care support service for people at risk or, or who have previously attempted suicide.  

“She literally approached me out of nowhere in the elevator,” Nathan said. “She came and sat on the bed with me, and we had a good talk. From there, we formed a really close bond. She still talks to me to this day.”  

With his only family living more than 200km away in Wollongong, Nathan had no visitors during his hospital stay. “On the days Paula came up, it was a huge highlight,” he said.  

Paula was also able to provide practical assistance, connecting Nathan with a skilled counsellor, helping him with shopping after his discharge, and encouraging him to persevere through the darkest moments of his recovery. 

“When I was like “**** this, I’m giving up”, she was the one person who stuck by me and said, ‘No, you’re seeing this through.’”   

 Support still taboo for men

Suicide is the leading cause of death for Australian men aged 15-44, and many men delay, or avoid seeking help altogether. Social isolation, stigma, and lacking access to services, especially in regional and rural areas, remain major barriers.  

“There’s this idea that if you’re a bloke, you should be able to handle it. But you have no idea how hard it is for men to talk about that kind of stuff, you know. Because there’s that stigma, it makes you look weak. It makes you look sorry for yourself. It’s not that at all…but sometimes, you just can’t get out of your own headspace,” Nathan said. 

A one-eighty 

With Paula’s support, Nathan found a full-time job on a permaculture farm, including onsite accommodation, which became a turning point in his life. Today, he is loving his job, is part of a supportive community and is in a budding relationship.

“Life has done a massive one-eighty,” he said. “I’m back in my element again.”  

Now a strong advocate for support programs like Care Connect, Nathan actively encourages others to reach out.

“I tell people when we talk at the pub and at the Bowling Club, ‘Don’t ever think you’re alone. I was in your boat and mate; I came out the other side. It’s hard, but there are people like Paula who can help during those dark stages.’” 

“I’ll talk up Paula and Social Futures any day of the week,” he said. “They’re doing absolutely brilliant work.  When I finished working with Paula and filled out the paperwork, I wrote at the very end, ‘give Paula a raise’. She deserves it. Make sure you put that in the article. The amount of care and support from someone literally on a chance meeting – I couldn’t believe it.”