“So You Think You (Or Someone You Know) May Be Having A Mental Health Problem?”
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O.K. SO YOU THINK YOU (OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW) MAY BE HAVING A MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEM - WHERE TO NOW?
You may recognise that you are feeling depressed, constantly anxious, be experiencing compulsions or having obsessive thoughts, experiencing delusions or hallucinations or any of a wide range of things that lead you to wonder why you can't "hold it together".
You may be finding life a bit too much to cope with or generally feeling overwhelmed by your responsibilities.
It can often take a while to realise that you need help but once you do, you need to know where help is available.
This fact sheet tells you where you can go, what you can do and has a list of some of the organisations that may be helpful in the pursuit of mental health care and information.
YOUR LOCAL GP
One of your first options is to explain your symptoms and concerns to your local/family doctor. They are able to refer you to a psychiatrist, psychologist or counsellor depending on your needs. A GP is also able to prescribe medication if they are familiar with the particular illness.
It is usually appropriate to see a mental health professional for a more thorough assessment and they in turn are able to make medication and /or therapy recommendations depending on the type and course of your mental health problem.
For the most common mental illnesses - Depression and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder amongst others, some form of therapy e.g.Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy or general counselling is a useful adjunct to medication.
COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRES
Alternatively you can go to your local Community Health Centre (CHC) -listed in the White Pages. Most CHCs have a mental health professional - a social worker, psychologist or counsellor who you would be able to talk to about your symptoms and concerns.
They may treat you within their team or refer you elsewhere for further assessment or treatment as appropriate.
CRISIS/MOBILE TEAMS
What do you do if the person experiencing signs of a mental illness refuses to seek help and/or is behaving in a disturbed way preventing you from being able to communicate to them the importance of seeing a doctor?
If they are acting in a way that is potentially dangerously towards themselves (inflicting self harm or is suicidal) or others, you can call the Crisis Team at your local CHC. These teams are often available 24 hours.
Keep the 'after hours' phone number handy. Talk to the mental health worker about the situation and tell them all the details-e.g. that the person (this may be yourself) is talking about or acting out suicidal behaviour, talking in a paranoid way, experiencing hallucinations, delusions etc it may be that you recognise symptoms that have led to a breakdown before.
The crisis team is a mobile unit that is able to come out and make an assessment in situ. It is helpful if they have a bit of history of the person or situation, so as soon as you think a person (or yourself) may be beginning to experience symptoms of a mental illness, call the team and keep them updated regarding the person's progress.
They will be able to tell you under what circumstances they will be able to come out. This is particularly important if the person is reluctant to seek help once the illness (depression, psychosis, mania, panic attacks etc.) develops further.
ADMISSION TO HOSPITAL
If a person is considered ill enough to require hospitalisation then they can admit themselves voluntarily or they may be taken by relatives, friends or the Crisis Team (and sometimes by the police or ambulance) to a hospital and admitted as an involuntary or voluntary patient. Within 12 hours of admission to hospital an assessment must be made by a doctor - usually a psychiatrist.
Admission and status of admission etc. is conducted in accordance with the NSW Mental Health Act, 1990 and a particular procedure is followed. To find out more about the Mental Health Act and the procedure, patient rights etc. you can contact the relevant hospital, the Mental Health Advocacy Service or the Mental Health Information Service.
Upon discharge from hospital and for help and advice anytime there is a range of after care, rehabilitation, accommodation, self-help support group options. Information and referral is available from the Mental Health Information Service.
AFTER CARE ASSOCIATION OF NSW
3/3 Wharf Road
LEICHHARDT NSW 2040
(02) 9810 7100
Mental health rehabilitation and accommodation support services. Biala service provides accommodation and support for adults who are recovering from a mental illness, usually after a period of hospitalisation.
ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION NSW
PO Box 42
NORTH RYDE NSW 2113
(02) 9805 0100
Support and education for families affected by dementia. Support groups, face to face counselling, library and education programs.
ASSOCIATION OF RELATIVES AND FRIENDS OF THE MENTALLY ILL
ARAFMI
PO Box 302
NORTH RYDE NSW 2113
1800 655 198 or (02) 9805 1883
Support for relatives and friends of the mentally ill via support groups in Sydney and rural areas. 24 hour telephone support line.
GROW
PO Box 64
PETERSHAM NSW 2049
(02) 9569 5566
Mental health self-help/mutual support groups using Grow's 12 step program.
LIFELINE
13 11 14
24 hour, 7 day counselling and support telephone service. Some face to face counselling available.
AUSTRALIAN MENTAL HEALTH SUICIDE CONSUMER ALLIANCE INC CLUB SPERANZA
PO Box 96
NEUTRAL BAY NSW 2089
(02) 9908 4574
Two Sydney support groups for people with problems associated with suicide and self-harm. Provides information and advocacy. Young people's program - Youth SPERANZA.
MENTAL HEALTH CO-ORDINATING COUNCIL
Cnr. Moodie and Manning Street
ROZELLE NSW 2039
(02) 9555 8388
A coalition of consumer, carer and provider groups, represents the non-government sector to government.
MENTAL HEALTH INFORMATION SERVICE
60-62 Victoria Rd
GLADESVILLE NSW 2111
(02) 9816 5688 Tollfree 1800 674 200 (Outside Sydney metro)
A telephone information and referral service. No counselling but can refer. We have a range of brochures and fact sheets on mental illness and issues surrounding mental health. Details of support group meetings for various groups (depression, anxiety, schizophrenia etc) in NSW.
MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY SERVICE
74-76 Burwood Road
BURWOOD NSW 2134
(02) 9745 4277
Legal aid matters under the Mental Health Act. Advice and assistance in mental health law. Telephone advice.
NSW DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION LEGAL CENTRE
1-5 Meeks Street
KINGSFORD
1800 800 708
(02) 9313 6000
Community legal centre providing legal advice on disability discrimination complaints.
SCHIZOPHRENIA FELLOWSHIP OF NSW INC.
Ward 27 Gladesville Hospital
Victoria Rd.,
GLADESVILLE 2111
(02) 9879 2600
Aims to support people with schizophrenia, their family and friends. Telephone information and referral service, library, support groups, newsletter, education, support friends social club and the Clubhouse.
Disclaimer
The information provided is to be used for educational purposes only. It should not be used as a substitute for seeking professional care in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders. Information may be reproduced with an acknowledgement to the Mental Health Association NSW. This, and other fact sheets are available for download from www.mentalhealth.asn.au. This fact sheet was last updated in Spring, 2002.
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