Black Dog Institute

About the Black Dog Institute
Mission
Programs and Services
Contact Details

About the Black Dog Institute

The Black Dog Institute is an educational, research, clinical and community-oriented facility offering specialist expertise in mood disorders – a range of disorders including depression, bipolar disorder and postnatal depression. The Institute is supported by NSW Health and affiliated with the University of New South Wales.

Mission

The Institute’s mission is to advance the understanding, diagnosis and management of mood disorders by continuously raising clinical, research, education and training standards. In so doing, the Institute aims to improve the lives of those affected – and in turn – the lives of their families and friends.

Programs and Services

Programs and services provided include:

Depression clinic – offers a state-wide (NSW) consultancy service to assist health professionals managing a patient with depression.
Bipolar Disorders clinic – offers a state-wide (NSW) consultancy service to assist health professionals managing a patient with bipolar disorder.
Perinatal Depression clinic – located at the Royal Hospital for Women (RHW) it provides mental-health services to women delivering through RHW and living in the Eastern Sydney area throughout pregnancy and up to one year postnatally.
Research – research studies are carried out on such topics as bipolar disorder, depression, cognitive behavioural therapy and medication.
Information Services – a community resource centre and lending library has a range of resources that can be browsed on-site or borrowed including books on depression, bipolar disorder, cognitive behavioural therapy & self-help strategies, videos, DVDs, CDs and audio tapes.
Community Education Programs – community, youth education and outreach programs are run by the Institute to enhance community understanding about mood disorders.
Professional Education Programs – a range of educational programs for health care professionals, customised for GPs, psychologists, nurses and allied health and school counsellors. The education team also offers programs for schools staff and in workplaces.
Rural Ambassador Program – ambassadors are chosen and trained to deliver presentations to rural and remote communities about their own experience with mood disorders.
Support Groups – Fortnightly friday support groups are held at the Black Dog Institute Building, Hospital Rd, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick.