If anxiety or depression is making everyday life increasingly difficult, you may be wondering whether the support you are receiving is enough.
Perhaps you have been seeing your GP, psychologist or psychiatrist but are still struggling. You may be finding it harder to work, sleep, manage relationships or do the things that usually matter to you. Or you may simply feel that you need more support than regular appointments can provide.
At Hirondelle Private Hospital in Chatswood, we will work with you to understand what is happening and what level of care may be most helpful.
Through the iMH model of care, we provide different levels of mental health support according to your individual needs. This includes inpatient treatment, structured day programs, Community Care and outpatient psychiatric care.
If you need inpatient treatment, your care is about more than being in hospital or having your medication reviewed. Our inpatient program provides a structured therapeutic environment incorporating Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) principles and interventions, together with psychiatric care, mental health nursing and multidisciplinary support.
Anxiety and depression can affect people differently, and it is common to experience symptoms of both.
If you are living with anxiety, you might experience persistent worry, fear, physical tension, racing thoughts, trouble sleeping or a sense that something is going to go wrong.
Depression may feel more like persistent sadness or emptiness, losing interest in things you usually enjoy, having very little energy or motivation, difficulty thinking or concentrating, or feeling hopeless about the future.
For some people, these experiences start to affect almost every part of life.
At Hirondelle, we look beyond a diagnosis to understand you as a whole person. Your assessment considers what you are experiencing now, how it is affecting your life, your physical health, previous treatment, your personal circumstances, your strengths and what you would like to achieve through treatment.
Together, these factors help determine the level of care that is most appropriate for you.
There isn't a single point at which someone "should" come to hospital.
It may be time to talk with your GP, psychiatrist or psychologist about additional support if:
You do not need to work out which program you need on your own. Our role is to help you understand your options and find the level of support that is right for you.
Recognises that mental health needs can change over time, so your care may need to change too.
The iMH model of care enables your treatment to be matched to the level of support you need at different stages of your recovery.
For some people, that may mean an inpatient admission when symptoms are particularly difficult, followed by a day program or Community Care as things improve. Others may begin with outpatient or day treatment and need additional support at another point.
There isn't one pathway that everyone has to follow.
The goal is to provide you with the right level of care at the right time, while helping you build the confidence, skills and support you need for your recovery.
Sometimes anxiety or depression can become difficult to manage with outpatient appointments alone.
An inpatient admission provides a safe, structured therapeutic environment with 24-hour mental health nursing support, psychiatric care and an individual treatment plan.
During your admission, your care may include:
Your treatment is reviewed throughout your admission and adjusted according to your progress and individual needs.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, or CBT, is an important part of Hirondelle's inpatient therapeutic approach.
CBT can help you understand the connections between what you think, how you feel and what you do.
When you are experiencing significant anxiety or depression, it can be difficult to recognise patterns that may be keeping you stuck. CBT helps you begin noticing these patterns and develop practical ways of responding differently.
During inpatient treatment, CBT principles may be used through structured therapeutic groups and skills-based interventions.
Depending on your individual treatment plan, you may work on areas such as:
Being in a structured inpatient environment also gives you the opportunity to learn and practise these skills while support is available around you.
CBT is provided as part of your broader care. It works alongside psychiatric treatment, mental health nursing and other therapeutic interventions rather than being treated as a stand-alone part of your admission.
You may not need an overnight hospital admission but still benefit from more structure and support than individual appointments can offer.
A day program allows you to attend structured therapeutic sessions and return home afterwards.
Hirondelle offers evidence-informed programs incorporating approaches such as Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
A day program may be helpful if you:
Your clinical needs will help determine which program is appropriate for you.
Sometimes you may need intensive, hospital-based support during the day without needing to stay in hospital overnight.
The Inpatient Day Experience provides access to a structured hospital-based treatment environment during the day, with the opportunity to return home in the evening when this is clinically appropriate.
Whether this option is right for you will depend on your individual circumstances, including how you are managing outside hospital and the level of support you need overnight.
Your psychiatrist and clinical team will discuss this with you.
Returning home after an inpatient admission can be a positive step, but it can also bring challenges.
Community Care can provide additional support as you put the strategies you have learned into practice in everyday life.
Care can include a combination of face-to-face and telehealth support, depending on your individual treatment plan.
Community Care reflects an important part of our model of care: leaving hospital does not necessarily mean the end of support.
Instead, we aim to help you move towards greater independence while maintaining the support you need for your recovery.
For some people, regular appointments with a psychiatrist provide the appropriate level of care.
Outpatient psychiatric care may include ongoing assessment, medication management and review while you continue living and recovering in your usual environment.
It can also form part of your ongoing care following an inpatient admission or structured program.
Your care can change as your needs change
Recovery does not always happen in a straight line. At different times, you may need more or less support.
For example, your pathway could involve:
Inpatient care → Day program → Community Care → Outpatient care
Or you might begin with outpatient support and move into a more structured program if your symptoms become harder to manage.
What matters is that your care reflects where you are in your recovery, rather than expecting you to fit into a predetermined pathway.
Your treatment plan is developed around your individual circumstances and may include a combination of:
Your assessment is an opportunity for us to understand what has been happening for you.
We will talk about your symptoms, how they are affecting your life, your physical and mental health, previous treatment, current supports and what you hope treatment will help you achieve.
Based on your assessment, your clinical team will recommend the level of care that is most appropriate for you.
This might include outpatient psychiatric care, a day program, Community Care, the Inpatient Day Experience or inpatient treatment.
Your treatment plan is based on your clinical needs and recovery goals.
It may include psychiatric care, medication management, CBT-informed treatment, therapeutic groups and other multidisciplinary interventions.
Your treatment isn't set in stone.
Your clinical team will review your progress and adjust your treatment as your needs change.
Planning for life after a hospital admission or program is part of your care from the beginning.
Before you move to the next stage of treatment, we will work with you to consider what ongoing support, skills and strategies will help you continue your recovery.
You don't need to know exactly which service you need before contacting us.
Talk with them about what you have been experiencing and whether more structured mental health treatment might help.
A referral from your GP or specialist is generally required to access hospital treatment.
If you would like to understand your options or what happens next, you can contact us before treatment begins.
Call the iMH Intake Team on 1800 943 003.
Our team can explain the referral and assessment process, discuss available treatment pathways and help you understand relevant funding arrangements.
Your clinical needs will be assessed so that we can understand which level of care is most appropriate for you.
If treatment at Hirondelle is appropriate, we will talk you through what to expect and help you prepare for the next steps.
If you are having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, feel unsafe, or are worried you may not be able to keep yourself safe, please seek help immediately rather than waiting for a routine referral or admission.
Call 000 in an emergency or attend your nearest emergency department.
You can also contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 for 24-hour crisis support.
How do I know whether I need inpatient treatment or a day program?
You don't need to make this decision by yourself.
The right level of care depends on several factors, including the severity of your symptoms, how you are functioning day to day, your safety, the support available to you at home and what treatment you have already tried.
Your clinical assessment will help determine which option is most appropriate.
Is CBT provided during an inpatient admission?
Yes. CBT principles and interventions are incorporated into Hirondelle's inpatient therapeutic approach.
CBT can help you recognise connections between thoughts, emotions and behaviours and develop practical strategies for managing anxiety and depression.
The way CBT is incorporated into your treatment will depend on your individual clinical needs and treatment plan.
What's the difference between anxiety and depression?
Anxiety often involves persistent worry, apprehension, fear or physical tension. Depression more commonly involves persistent low mood, loss of interest or pleasure, reduced energy and motivation.
Many people experience both anxiety and depression at the same time. Your treatment therefore considers your overall experience rather than simply treating a diagnosis.
What if the treatment I've already tried hasn't worked?
Not improving with your first treatment doesn't mean you have run out of options.
Your psychiatrist can review what you have previously tried, how you responded and whether a different therapeutic approach, medication or level of care may be appropriate.
Can I come during the day rather than stay overnight?
For some people, yes.
Hirondelle provides both structured day programs and an Inpatient Day Experience. Whether you can safely return home overnight depends on your individual clinical circumstances and the level of support you need.
Your psychiatrist and clinical team will discuss the available options with you.
Do I need a referral?
A referral from your GP or specialist is generally required for hospital treatment.
If you are unsure where to begin, call our Intake Team on 1800 943 003 and we can explain the next steps.
You don't have to work out the next step alone
When you're living with anxiety or depression, even deciding where to seek help can feel difficult.
At Hirondelle, our aim is to understand what is happening for you, what matters to you and what level of support will help you move forward.
Through the iMH model of care, we can provide different levels of support as your needs change, from inpatient CBT-informed treatment and structured day programs through to Community Care and outpatient psychiatric care.
Talk with your GP or treating specialist about a referral, or call the iMH Intake Team on 1800 943 003 to talk about the next step.
