Tireless mental health champion

Lifeline Northern Beaches
Respect. Compassion. Collaboration

Psychologist Barbara Stenhouse is a tireless champion for mental health in her community and has facilitated more than 2000 low cost or free counselling sessions in the past year.

Barbara is the counselling manager at Lifeline Northern Beaches and believes everyone should have access to counselling support, regardless of their economic circumstances.

In her two years in the role, Barbara has expanded the counselling team from 14 to 21 qualified volunteer counsellors and psychologists, helping to meet the demand for face-to-face counselling. While Lifeline is known for its crisis hotline, she wants to support people before they get to crisis point.

Crucially, Barbara facilitated a quick transition to online appointments at the beginning of COVID-19 social distancing. Demand has continued to balloon as people seek help for anxiety and depression, isolation, domestic and family violence, job loss, financial stress and suicidality.

“We have seen an unprecedented increase in people reaching out for counselling,” Barbara says.

She has started two new services: one with Avalon Youth Hub and an outreach service in Mosman.

“I am both humbled and honoured to be nominated as a Westfield Local Hero,” says Barbara.

“I am passionate about de-stigmatising mental illness and encouraging people to have conversations about how they are feeling.”

Westfield Local Heroes are nominated and voted for by their communities, with the three top finalists per Westfield centre each awarded a $10,000 grant for their affiliated organisation. Lifeline Northern Beaches will use its funds to pay for 100 counselling sessions for people in need.

For further information on the Westfield Local Heroes program, click here

If you need support, please phone Lifeline: 13 11 14