1. health and fitness
2. disorders

Northside
Clinic
Contents
Overview
Treatments
Inpatient Services
Day Programs
The Clinic
What are the Costs?
How to Get Started
The Northside Group of Clinics
How to Find Us
Overview
At some point in their lives, as many as one-in-five people will
experience a mental health disorder. Even though the stigma
that once surrounded having a mental health disorder has
been greatly reduced, many people still feel embarrassed or
see it as a sign of weakness and do not seek help straight away.
However, mental health disorders have recognisable
symptoms and are manageable just like any other illness.
There is also substantial evidence to show that the right
treatments can do much to reduce or even eliminate
someone’s symptoms.
Northside Clinic offers inpatient and day programs for
people with a range of mental health disorders including:
• mood and anxiety disorders,
• psychosis (ie schizophrenia),
• personality and adjustment disorders,
• drug and alcohol addictions, and
• eating disorders.
The first step for you and your loved ones is acceptance
that you need professional help to improve the quality and
enjoyment of your life. It’s a courageous step to come in, or
come back in, and our experienced, non-judgmental staff will
do a full assessment and provide a tailored treatment program
that best suits your individual needs.
Our treatments usually include a combination of:
• group therapy,
• individual therapy (such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy),
• learning new coping strategies,
• lifestyle changes (including not using alcohol and
recreational drugs), and/or
• medications if required.
Our 92-bed hospital is located in leafy Greenwich on the
lower north shore of Sydney, only 7km from the CBD. Our
individual and group therapy treatments are based on the
most up-to-date psychiatric research and our clinic is widely
regarded as a centre of excellence. We are also a teaching
hospital affiliated with the University of Sydney. Our clinically
sound and innovative programs are provided in a warm,
supportive environment by our dedicated team of mental
health professionals.
Treatments
Northside Clinic offers a holistic approach to treatment
with a focus on healing the mind, body and soul.
Our inpatient and day programs are designed and led by our
multidisciplinary team of health professionals who
assist groups to work together in an atmosphere of
trust and respect.
We believe you should be fully involved in your recovery
process, so each aspect of your treatment is discussed with you
and/or your loved ones at length.
Individual and group therapy sessions use a combination
of the following evidence-based techniques shown to be
effective in clinical trials:
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) focuses on helping
people to recognise unhelpful thoughts and develop
strategies to cope more effectively by identifying alternative
ways of seeing oneself, one’s problems and the world.
Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) aims to help
people to understand their problems and be able to express
their feelings about them—including both painful and
pleasant feelings.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) uses
acceptance, mindfulness and commitment strategies, together
with behavioural change to make people more resilient to
psychological stresses. Mindfulness is an ancient practice
found in a wide range of Eastern philosophies that involves
consciously bringing awareness to your current situation
and being more open and receptive to what is happening
around you.
Medications may be used to target the underlying changes
in brain function; helping to alleviate the symptoms of
depression, psychosis etc and preventing their recurrence.
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) is sometimes needed
when other treatments such as counselling and medications
are not effective. ECT is an essential and effective tool, which
is recognised by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College
of Psychiatrists and other similar organisations overseas. If your
doctor recommends this treatment, it will be discussed with
you and your loved ones in detail and you will be given an
information pack to enable you to make an informed decision.
Inpatient Services
We all know that the human body is susceptible to illnesses
such as a cold or flu and that if the symptoms are severe
enough they may need medical attention to restore health.
Similarly, feelings of sadness, anxiety, worry, irritability or
sleep problems are common to most people. However, when
these feelings become very intense, last for a long period and/
or begin to interfere with our daily activities it can be a sign of
a mental illness needing professional help—either within the
clinic environment or as part of a day program.
Northside Clinic has four specialised treatment units:
1.General Mental Health Disorders
This unit focuses on general mental health disorders—including
anxiety, personality and adjustment disorders, psychosis and
schizophrenia—and helps patients to navigate the mental
health care treatment pathway, often for the first time.
The General Mental Health Disorders Unit has the only mental
health Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in NSW. This unit provides a safe
environment for patients requiring intensive treatment and/or
increased observation during the acute phase of their illness.
2.Mood Disorders
Depression is much more than just a low mood; it is a serious
illness that is common in today’s stressful and complex society.
Depression can occur for a number of reasons such as a disruption
of the brain’s chemistry and/or when we experience challenging
life situations such as recent losses or interpersonal conflicts.
Whatever the cause, depression is a very real medical
condition. It is also experienced by people with Bipolar
Disorder in which a person fluctuates between high mood
(mania) and low mood (depression) for varying periods of
time. The extreme mood swings may or may not be related to
what is happening in their lives.
The Mood Disorders Unit at Northside Clinic was the first of
its kind in Australia and is still a leader in the quality of care
provided. Most patients coming into this unit have medical
problems that require careful observation and assessment before
a diagnosis can be made. Patients are often referred to the Clinic
because they have not responded to other treatments. ECT is
effective for treatment-resistant mood disorders and group
therapy sessions, employing a variety of psychological methods,
help patients to recognise the factors contributing to their
depression and/or other disorders.
3.Drug & Alcohol Addictions
For some, it begins as innocently as social drinking with friends
or a way to cope with the pressures of work. For others it might
be a gradual increase in their use of prescription or recreational
drugs. Whatever the cause or substance, drug and/or alcohol
dependency is a disease that damages your emotional, physical
and spiritual health. As time goes on, instead of helping you to
cope it starts destroying your life. However with the right
professional help, you can not only recover from dependency
but look forward to a brighter future.
Our specialist drug and alcohol unit at Northside Clinic (and
also at Northside West) offers a recognised and well-respected
three-week intensive inpatient program. Our abstinence-based
programs are similar to programs run by Alcoholics Anonymous
and Narcotics Anonymous. If needed, detoxification can be
achieved safely under the supervision of our medical staff, using
drugs to lessen the effects of withdrawal.
The inpatient group therapy sessions, in which you work on
issues such as dealing with cravings, are an important part of
the rehabilitation process. Patients also make a commitment
to attend a day program following discharge. This aims to
bridge the gap between the inpatient unit and going home
by providing skills and support so you are not as susceptible to
triggering the same cycle again (see Day Programs).
4.Eating Disorders
Eating disorders are far more complex than just unhealthy
eating and weight; they involve extreme disturbances in eating
behaviour and attitudes about your weight and body image.
Food is used as a way of dealing with uncomfortable or painful
emotions and obsessions over food and weight start to dominate
every aspect of your life. The longer an eating disorder remains
undiagnosed and untreated, the harder it is on your body and
the more difficult it is to overcome.
Northside Clinic has been successfully treating eating disorders
for more than 25 years and is now the largest private eating
disorders unit in Australia. Our unit is led by experts in the field
who use a combination of psychotherapy, nutritional counselling,
exercise and group support to help ensure a full and lasting
recovery. If you are still studying, it is possible to be assisted
by a dietician and a teacher who visit regularly to encourage
school and university students to continue their studies whilst
in hospital. Patients are also encouraged to participate in a day
program for as long as they need support and encouragement to
change their thought patterns and behaviours about eating.
Day Programs
The day programs offered at Northside Clinic are an
essential part of your journey of recovery from a mental
health disorder.
Our day programs are beneficial if your referring clinician
recommends being part of a supportive group psychotherapy
program, where people help each other by sharing
experiences and you can see that you are not alone.
If you have been an inpatient, our day programs can provide
additional support while you continue to work on any skills
you learnt in hospital with the aim of breaking the cycle of
relapse and the need for re-hospitalisation.
Our well-respected programs deal with a wide range of
issues including:
• Anxiety,
• Mood disorders,
• Drug and alcohol addictions, and
• Eating disorders.
You will learn how to manage your thoughts, feelings
and behaviours in a healthy way so you can develop a new
understanding of ‘self’ and how you can improve your
own life. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy as well as other
techniques, such acceptance and mindfulness, are important
elements of our day programs.
Some of our programs are for a specified length of time to
work on particular skills and issues, while others, such as the
Supportive Program, deal with the emotional side of your
recovery and provide support for daily living on an
ongoing basis.
You will experience personal growth as you progress
through the stages of the various programs and this can be
very rewarding. However new issues may also arise so our
day programs are very flexible in their design allowing you
to feel supported at every step of your journey.
You will have regular assessments and the skills therapist
will inform your referring clinician and/or loved ones of
your progress.
The Clinic
Northside Clinic offers a combination of the very best care,
treatment and customer service in a calm and therapeutic
environment—all aimed at making your stay as comfortable
as possible.
Our Client Relations Service was created to provide you
with a more personalised admission process and a point of
contact during your stay to help reduce any anxiety associated
with coming into hospital. Our friendly client relations team
can also help with any needs you may have such as booking
you a massage (on a fee-for-service basis) and explaining the
benefits of the life-enhancing products in the display cabinet.
An internet lounge including printing facility (on a fee-forservice basis) is located on the ground floor.
The café-style dining room opens onto a courtyard and offers
a wide selection of nutritionally balanced meals including
some lighter, healthier meal options. A dietician assists in
the development of all menus including those for people
with special dietary requirements and those being treated
for Eating Disorders. We provide an extended breakfast
session so you will have ample time to exercise and/or
prepare for the day. Subsidised visitors’ meals are also available.
Café Northside, located near the entrance to the clinic, offers
an alternative dining experience and the ideal place to meet
with family and friends in an informal setting during the week.
The social program includes something for everyone,
whether it’s taking in a current release movie, joining in a craft
group such as card making or going to Friday Afternoon Live
with live music and refreshments.
You may like to have family and friends join you for a meal
in the dining room including the Sunday roast. On a regular
basis there are family BBQs and high teas with petit fours and
finger sandwiches.
The fully equipped gymnasium offers gentle stretch
classes or patients may like to use the equipment for a more
vigorous workout. In addition to supervised gym sessions,
Northside Active includes complimentary yoga classes.
Improved carer support is offered through our Carer
Support Groups in some of our units. Northside Clinic is also
committed to involving carers in your treatment as long as we
have your consent to disclose personal information to them
(see the Carer’s Guide).
What are the Costs?
It is very important that you are properly informed of the
financial details of your treatment program prior to your
admission to hospital.
If you have been a member of a private health fund for
more than eight weeks and your policy has no psychiatric
exclusions, you will generally be covered for the cost of
inpatient and day programs. We recommend that clients
check the level and type of cover their health fund offers for
treatment and accommodation in private or shared rooms.
There may also be some costs that are not covered by your
health fund such as screening pathology, x-ray, pharmacy and
incidentals. For these items and also for clients who are not
privately insured, our staff will be happy to discuss our costs
and payment policy with you.
How to Get Started
Admission to our hospital is always on a voluntary basis,
with patients understanding and accepting the need to
actively participate in their own recovery process.
A referral from your psychiatrist and/or GP is needed for all
inpatient and day programs. Our EasyAccess admissions service
– call 02 9433 3555 – is staffed by experienced clinicians
who speak to every patient prior to their admission. They will
ask for a brief history and go through a checklist of items,
including what to bring, before providing an assessment of
how we can best serve your needs.
You can be assured that we will respect your privacy and
confidentiality by not discussing your treatment plan, progress
and/or history with anyone without your express permission.
On admission, you will be greeted by a member of our client
relations team who will accompany you to your unit and
introduce you to the clinical staff. We value your feedback and
our client relations staff are also available to assist you with
any queries you may have during your stay with us. We can
even arrange transport when it is time to go home.
We look forward to welcoming you to Northside Clinic.
The Northside Group
of Clinics
Northside Clinic in Greenwich was the first Clinic to be
established in The Northside Group, which also includes
Northside Cremorne and Northside West in Wentworthville.
We are owned by Ramsay Health Care—Australia’s premier
provider of private mental health care and embrace the
culture of the ‘Ramsay Way’. This is embodied in the pride
we take in the quality of our staff, our excellent relationships
with referring clinicians and our commitment to continually
improving all aspects of our care and service for patients.
The Northside Group of Clinics provides inpatient services for
up to 170 patients at any one time. Our hospitals share clinical
expertise and services so you can be assured of a high level of
care and treatment in all three locations.
How to Find Us
Northside Clinic
2 Greenwich Road
Greenwich NSW 2065
ph: 02 9433 3555 - fax: 02 9433 3599
www.thenorthsidegroup.com.au