Mental Health Support Group
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The Mental Health Support Group
The Mental Health Support Group (MHSG) is a registered charity dedicated to improving the welfare, dignity and quality of life of people living with mental illness. For 29 years, MHSG has been providing practical, compassionate and ongoing support to people experiencing mental health challenges throughout the Northern Rivers region.
MHSG is entirely volunteer-run and receives no government funding. Our volunteers work tirelessly to fill gaps in services and provide practical assistance to people who are often vulnerable, isolated, disadvantaged or marginalised because of their mental illness.
MHSG works closely with patients and mental health services at Lismore Base Hospital, Byron Central Hospital and Tweed Heads Hospital, as well as with people living in the wider community who are struggling with their mental health.
Our focus extends beyond a person’s immediate hospital admission. We are committed to supporting people in the longer term so that they can rebuild their lives, live as independently as possible, participate in their community and avoid becoming further marginalised because of their illness.
Meeting Basic Needs and Restoring Dignity
MHSG provides assistance across a wide range of areas, from basic necessities such as clothing and toiletries to furniture, household goods, food, quilts, art and music therapy resources, sporting and fitness equipment, musical instruments, Christmas hampers and gifts.
Many people admitted to the Lismore Adult Mental Health Unit are homeless, have been abandoned by their families or have very limited financial resources. Some arrive at hospital without adequate clothing or basic personal-care items.
MHSG provides approximately 700 toiletry packs each year to patients at the Lismore Adult Mental Health Unit. Donated clothing from opportunity shops, community members and private individuals is sorted and distributed to patients who need clean, suitable clothing. MHSG also purchases new underwear, nightwear and slippers so that patients can leave hospital with basic essentials and dignity.
We also provide materials for art therapy, including paints, brushes and paper, as well as games, magazines and cards for recreational and diversional activities.
Creating a More Caring Hospital Environment
Over the years, MHSG has facilitated the donation of more than 600 handmade patchwork quilts to mental health units at Tweed Heads, Byron Bay and Lismore.
These quilts have been donated following community appeals and have transformed hospital rooms into warmer, more welcoming environments. For people experiencing some of the darkest and most difficult periods of their lives, something as simple as a colourful handmade quilt can provide comfort, warmth and a sense that someone in the community cares.
Patients can often be seen wrapped in one of these quilts while watching television or resting. The emotional comfort and sense of connection these quilts provide should not be underestimated.
Supporting Children and Young People
MHSG is also committed to supporting young people receiving treatment at Kamala, where patients range from approximately 8 to 18 years of age.
These young people may have experienced sexual, physical or emotional abuse, family breakdown, trauma or other significant disruption in their lives. Many spend extended periods in hospital, and MHSG recognises the importance of providing activities and resources that support their development, wellbeing and emotional recovery during this difficult time.
MHSG has provided musical instruments for music therapy, books and reading materials, art supplies and other resources to help young people remain engaged, creative and connected while receiving treatment.
At the request of hospital psychiatrists, MHSG spent three years working to establish a therapy-dog program for patients at the adult and child and adolescent mental health facilities in Lismore.
The program was enormously successful. Patients looked forward to the visits and gained significant enjoyment and emotional comfort from interacting with the dogs. Sadly, the program has had to cease because there are currently insufficient trained therapy dogs available in the local area. It remains an initiative that MHSG would very much like to see restored in the future.
Helping People Rebuild Their Lives in the Community
MHSG supports people from all walks of life and from diverse backgrounds. Those we assist include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, survivors of domestic and family violence, people experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity, veterans, and people facing financial hardship, social isolation or other difficult circumstances. Many are living with significant mental health challenges and have limited access to the practical resources they need to live safely and independently. MHSG provides practical assistance based on individual need, helping people regain stability, dignity and a sense of belonging in the community.
MHSG’s work does not end when a person leaves hospital.
We provide furniture, household goods and other essential items to people in the community who are struggling because of their mental illness or difficult circumstances.
This includes people who have experienced homelessness and have finally secured accommodation, as well as people who have been living in caravans or other inadequate circumstances and are moving into more suitable housing.
For someone starting again after homelessness, having a bed, refrigerator, table, chairs, kitchen equipment and other household necessities can make an enormous difference.
MHSG helps turn an empty house into a home.
This practical assistance can be the beginning of a major transformation in a person’s life. It provides stability and dignity and helps people establish a safe home from which they can begin to recover, rebuild their confidence and reconnect with their community.
MHSG operates a van and two storage sheds to support this substantial area of our work. We regularly receive feedback from health professionals and support workers who tell us that the assistance provided by MHSG has helped change people’s lives.
Providing Food to People in Need
Food insecurity is another significant issue faced by people living with mental illness.
It is not uncommon for outpatients to arrive at Community Mental Health services having had little or no food for several days.
Recognising this need, MHSG commenced obtaining food through Foodbank approximately two years ago. Food is delivered to Community Mental Health services, where it is stored in a pantry and distributed to patients who are experiencing food insecurity or have little or no food at home.
This simple but vital service ensures that people who are
already struggling with their mental health do not also have to face hunger.
Bringing Christmas to People Who Would Otherwise Go Without
Christmas can be an especially difficult time for people who are isolated, homeless, financially disadvantaged or living with mental illness.
Each year, MHSG provides more than 70 Christmas hampers and gifts to some of the most disadvantaged individuals and families in the mental health community.
In addition, approximately 90 Christmas gifts are provided to mental health inpatients across the three hospitals we support.
For many recipients, these gifts are more than just presents. They are a reminder that they have not been forgotten and that their community cares about them.
Providing Equipment and Improving Quality of Life
MHSG continually responds to identified needs within mental health services.
During the past year, we have provided Lismore Base mental health units with gym and sporting equipment, a refrigerator, dishwasher and cooking appliances and equipment for the patients’ kitchen.
We have also provided a piano and 12 relaxation therapy chairs, which have been distributed across the three hospitals we support.
These resources help create opportunities for exercise, recreation, relaxation, social interaction and therapeutic activity—important elements in supporting recovery and wellbeing.
A Community Organisation Making a Difference
For 29 years, MHSG has worked quietly but consistently to improve the lives of people living with mental illness.
Our work is practical, immediate and personal. We respond to needs that are often overlooked: a person who needs clean underwear, someone leaving hospital without a home, a family without food, a young person who needs something creative to do, or a newly housed person who needs a bed and basic household items.
Every item we provide represents more than the item itself. A toiletry pack provides dignity. A quilt provides comfort. Food provides security. Furniture provides a home. A musical instrument provides an opportunity for expression. A Christmas gift provides a sense of belonging.
MHSG believes that people living with mental illness deserve the same dignity, opportunities and sense of belonging as everyone else.
Our volunteers are committed to ensuring that people experiencing mental illness are not forgotten, excluded or disadvantaged. Through practical assistance, compassion and community support, MHSG helps people move from crisis towards stability, recovery and participation in community life.
Recognition and Awards
The commitment of Barbara and the Mental Health Support Group has been recognised through numerous awards, nominations and community honours, including:
● 2006 – NSW Mental Health Association Mental Health Matters Individual Award
● 2007 – Australia Day Award Nomination, Lismore
● 2007 – Quota Club Alstonville, Annette Ferguson Community Woman of the Year
● 2007 – MHSG recognised with a NSW Mental Health Association Mental Health Matters Award
● 2008 – Nominated for Australian of the Year
● 2009 – NSW Volunteer of the Year Runner-up
● 2013 – Northern Rivers Community Sector Award
● 2015 – Summerland Credit Union Volunteer Lifeblood
● 2016 – Nominated for Volunteer Community Contribution Award, NSW Local Health District
● 2017 – Department of Primary Industries Hidden Treasures Honour Roll
● 2017 – Australia Day Award Nomination, Ballina
● 2019 – Paul Harris Fellowship, conferred by Rotary Club of Summerland Sunrise
● 2021 – Ballina Shire Citizen of the Year
● 2025 – Mental Health Commission of NSW Community Champion Award finalist
These honours reflect the longstanding commitment of MHSG and its volunteers to improving the lives of people living with mental illness throughout the Northern Rivers.
For 29 years, MHSG has demonstrated that small acts of practical kindness can make an extraordinary difference in the life of someone experiencing mental illness.
August 2026
The Mental Health Support Group (MHSG) is a registered charity dedicated to improving the welfare, dignity and quality of life of people living with mental illness. For 29 years, MHSG has been providing practical, compassionate and ongoing support to people experiencing mental health challenges throughout the Northern Rivers region.
MHSG is entirely volunteer-run and receives no government funding. Our volunteers work tirelessly to fill gaps in services and provide practical assistance to people who are often vulnerable, isolated, disadvantaged or marginalised because of their mental illness.
MHSG works closely with patients and mental health services at Lismore Base Hospital, Byron Central Hospital and Tweed Heads Hospital, as well as with people living in the wider community who are struggling with their mental health.
Our focus extends beyond a person’s immediate hospital admission. We are committed to supporting people in the longer term so that they can rebuild their lives, live as independently as possible, participate in their community and avoid becoming further marginalised because of their illness.
Meeting Basic Needs and Restoring Dignity
MHSG provides assistance across a wide range of areas, from basic necessities such as clothing and toiletries to furniture, household goods, food, quilts, art and music therapy resources, sporting and fitness equipment, musical instruments, Christmas hampers and gifts.
Many people admitted to the Lismore Adult Mental Health Unit are homeless, have been abandoned by their families or have very limited financial resources. Some arrive at hospital without adequate clothing or basic personal-care items.
MHSG provides approximately 700 toiletry packs each year to patients at the Lismore Adult Mental Health Unit. Donated clothing from opportunity shops, community members and private individuals is sorted and distributed to patients who need clean, suitable clothing. MHSG also purchases new underwear, nightwear and slippers so that patients can leave hospital with basic essentials and dignity.
We also provide materials for art therapy, including paints, brushes and paper, as well as games, magazines and cards for recreational and diversional activities.
Creating a More Caring Hospital Environment
Over the years, MHSG has facilitated the donation of more than 600 handmade patchwork quilts to mental health units at Tweed Heads, Byron Bay and Lismore.
These quilts have been donated following community appeals and have transformed hospital rooms into warmer, more welcoming environments. For people experiencing some of the darkest and most difficult periods of their lives, something as simple as a colourful handmade quilt can provide comfort, warmth and a sense that someone in the community cares.
Patients can often be seen wrapped in one of these quilts while watching television or resting. The emotional comfort and sense of connection these quilts provide should not be underestimated.
Supporting Children and Young People
MHSG is also committed to supporting young people receiving treatment at Kamala, where patients range from approximately 8 to 18 years of age.
These young people may have experienced sexual, physical or emotional abuse, family breakdown, trauma or other significant disruption in their lives. Many spend extended periods in hospital, and MHSG recognises the importance of providing activities and resources that support their development, wellbeing and emotional recovery during this difficult time.
MHSG has provided musical instruments for music therapy, books and reading materials, art supplies and other resources to help young people remain engaged, creative and connected while receiving treatment.
At the request of hospital psychiatrists, MHSG spent three years working to establish a therapy-dog program for patients at the adult and child and adolescent mental health facilities in Lismore.
The program was enormously successful. Patients looked forward to the visits and gained significant enjoyment and emotional comfort from interacting with the dogs. Sadly, the program has had to cease because there are currently insufficient trained therapy dogs available in the local area. It remains an initiative that MHSG would very much like to see restored in the future.
Helping People Rebuild Their Lives in the Community
MHSG supports people from all walks of life and from diverse backgrounds. Those we assist include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, survivors of domestic and family violence, people experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity, veterans, and people facing financial hardship, social isolation or other difficult circumstances. Many are living with significant mental health challenges and have limited access to the practical resources they need to live safely and independently. MHSG provides practical assistance based on individual need, helping people regain stability, dignity and a sense of belonging in the community.
MHSG’s work does not end when a person leaves hospital.
We provide furniture, household goods and other essential items to people in the community who are struggling because of their mental illness or difficult circumstances.
This includes people who have experienced homelessness and have finally secured accommodation, as well as people who have been living in caravans or other inadequate circumstances and are moving into more suitable housing.
For someone starting again after homelessness, having a bed, refrigerator, table, chairs, kitchen equipment and other household necessities can make an enormous difference.
MHSG helps turn an empty house into a home.
This practical assistance can be the beginning of a major transformation in a person’s life. It provides stability and dignity and helps people establish a safe home from which they can begin to recover, rebuild their confidence and reconnect with their community.
MHSG operates a van and two storage sheds to support this substantial area of our work. We regularly receive feedback from health professionals and support workers who tell us that the assistance provided by MHSG has helped change people’s lives.
Providing Food to People in Need
Food insecurity is another significant issue faced by people living with mental illness.
It is not uncommon for outpatients to arrive at Community Mental Health services having had little or no food for several days.
Recognising this need, MHSG commenced obtaining food through Foodbank approximately two years ago. Food is delivered to Community Mental Health services, where it is stored in a pantry and distributed to patients who are experiencing food insecurity or have little or no food at home.
This simple but vital service ensures that people who are
already struggling with their mental health do not also have to face hunger.
Bringing Christmas to People Who Would Otherwise Go Without
Christmas can be an especially difficult time for people who are isolated, homeless, financially disadvantaged or living with mental illness.
Each year, MHSG provides more than 70 Christmas hampers and gifts to some of the most disadvantaged individuals and families in the mental health community.
In addition, approximately 90 Christmas gifts are provided to mental health inpatients across the three hospitals we support.
For many recipients, these gifts are more than just presents. They are a reminder that they have not been forgotten and that their community cares about them.
Providing Equipment and Improving Quality of Life
MHSG continually responds to identified needs within mental health services.
During the past year, we have provided Lismore Base mental health units with gym and sporting equipment, a refrigerator, dishwasher and cooking appliances and equipment for the patients’ kitchen.
We have also provided a piano and 12 relaxation therapy chairs, which have been distributed across the three hospitals we support.
These resources help create opportunities for exercise, recreation, relaxation, social interaction and therapeutic activity—important elements in supporting recovery and wellbeing.
A Community Organisation Making a Difference
For 29 years, MHSG has worked quietly but consistently to improve the lives of people living with mental illness.
Our work is practical, immediate and personal. We respond to needs that are often overlooked: a person who needs clean underwear, someone leaving hospital without a home, a family without food, a young person who needs something creative to do, or a newly housed person who needs a bed and basic household items.
Every item we provide represents more than the item itself. A toiletry pack provides dignity. A quilt provides comfort. Food provides security. Furniture provides a home. A musical instrument provides an opportunity for expression. A Christmas gift provides a sense of belonging.
MHSG believes that people living with mental illness deserve the same dignity, opportunities and sense of belonging as everyone else.
Our volunteers are committed to ensuring that people experiencing mental illness are not forgotten, excluded or disadvantaged. Through practical assistance, compassion and community support, MHSG helps people move from crisis towards stability, recovery and participation in community life.
Recognition and Awards
The commitment of Barbara and the Mental Health Support Group has been recognised through numerous awards, nominations and community honours, including:
● 2006 – NSW Mental Health Association Mental Health Matters Individual Award
● 2007 – Australia Day Award Nomination, Lismore
● 2007 – Quota Club Alstonville, Annette Ferguson Community Woman of the Year
● 2007 – MHSG recognised with a NSW Mental Health Association Mental Health Matters Award
● 2008 – Nominated for Australian of the Year
● 2009 – NSW Volunteer of the Year Runner-up
● 2013 – Northern Rivers Community Sector Award
● 2015 – Summerland Credit Union Volunteer Lifeblood
● 2016 – Nominated for Volunteer Community Contribution Award, NSW Local Health District
● 2017 – Department of Primary Industries Hidden Treasures Honour Roll
● 2017 – Australia Day Award Nomination, Ballina
● 2019 – Paul Harris Fellowship, conferred by Rotary Club of Summerland Sunrise
● 2021 – Ballina Shire Citizen of the Year
● 2025 – Mental Health Commission of NSW Community Champion Award finalist
These honours reflect the longstanding commitment of MHSG and its volunteers to improving the lives of people living with mental illness throughout the Northern Rivers.
For 29 years, MHSG has demonstrated that small acts of practical kindness can make an extraordinary difference in the life of someone experiencing mental illness.
August 2026
