Patient Resources
The addresses / links below will take you to specific web pages dealing with particular issues (eg treatments for depression and anxiety) however, these websites contain much more information. To find out about other aspects of mental illness, you may find it useful to click on the 'home' button when you are in these other sites.
Where Do I Get Help?
Speak to your own GP about your problems and they may offer help themselves or refer you to a specialist service such as psychiatrists, psychologists, counsellors or other services. Psychiatrists are doctors specialising in mental illnesses and you will need a referral letter from your GP.
Psychologists have a university degree in psychology and specialise in understanding how thinking and behaviour affect how we feel. They can teach patients how to change their thinking and behaviour to reduce or eliminate symptoms of illness and manage stressful life experiences. You can find a list of local psychologists in the phone book under 'psychologists' or your GP may advise you.
Counsellors come from a range of training backgrounds and offer support and advice for a range of situations and conditions eg individual, couple, family therapy. You can find local services in the phone book under 'counselling'.
Website links and resources
Depression and Anxiety: what are they?
Click here to find out about these common conditions
Treatments for Depression and Anxiety
Click on here for an outline of treatments (psychological, medications, alternative approaches) for anxiety and depression or visit this site
www.beyondblue.org.au
What you should know about Suicide
A fact sheet produced by the Mental Health Information Service on the risk factors and warning signs, plus information and advice on how to help someone who may be feeling suicidal. www.mentalhealth.asn.au
Support after Suicide
Click here for information about a support group in Sutherland Shire run by Southern Community Welfare for people who have been bereaved by suicide.
- or phone Southern Community Welfare on (02) 9545 0299
Eating Disorders
Click below on the Eating Disorders Foundation of NSW website for information on these conditions, how to help someone with an eating disorder, support groups, resources etc. http://www.edsn.asn.au/
What is Psychosis?
Click to the website link for a description of psychosis. www.eppic.org.au/pdfs/info1.pdf Further information on Early Psychosis Prevention can be found at http://www.eppic.org.au/
What is Bipolar Disorder?
Click here for general information on the condition and its treatment and specific advice for carers.
Young People's Mental Health
For some young people, adolescence can be associated with the development of depression, anxiety, psychosis or other mental illnesses. The following website has been specifically designed to provide information to young people on mental illness, drugs and alcohol, eating disorders, relationships, loss and grief and other mental health issues.
http://www.reachout.com.au/
The beyondblue (National Depression Initiative) website also has information on depression in young people, experienced by 1 in 5 young people in Australia each year www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?link_id=5.85 and www.beyondblue.org.au/ybblue
Post Natal Depression (PND)
Find out about the different types of PND from the Black Dog Institute.
Men's Health
Men's mental health can be bound up in their work and home relationships. This site gives information on relationships, family law, surviving divorce, parenting, conflict resolution and has a services directory showing support groups and events specifically for men. They also have a 24 hour telephone helpline at 1300 78 99 78 http://www.menslineaus.org.au/
Alcohol and Other Drugs
Click on this site for information on alcohol and a range of other drugs and how they affect the body
Carers
Being a carer for someone with a mental illness can be extremely challenging. Carers need information about the illness affecting their loved one, need to be involved in planning the management of the person who is ill (with their permission), and need to look after their own needs at the same time.
Click below for a factsheet: Caring for Someone with a Mental Illness:
How Can I help? and Caring for a person with Depression or Anxiety. See websites below for information on specific conditions.The Carers NSW http://www.carersnsw.asn.au/ and SANE Australia http://www.sane.org/ websites also have useful information.
Other useful websites for consumers
- SANE Australia
National charity helping people with a mental illness. Information and resources.
- Reach Out!
Mental health information for young people. Includes info on mental illnesses, loss and grief, drugs and alcohol, eating disorders, family issues, staying healthy, being a carer.
- beyondblue
The national depression initiative website. Information, resources and links to other sites on depression, anxiety and other illnesses.
- MoodGYM
Australian National University website developed to provide cognitive behavioural therapy on-line to manage and prevent depression.
- Lifeline
24 hour telephone counselling service.
- The Black Dog Institute
Information on depression and bipolar disorder.
http://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/index.cfm
- Clinical Research Unit for Anxiety and Depression (CRUFAD)
For self-help if fearful, worried, anxious or depressed.
http://www.crufad.com/
For a comprehensive range of mental health related websites, go to the beyondblue website
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