If you want help with your mental health, it is a good idea to ask someone you trust first. Someone you trust with important things, like your health. This is a person in your life who you feel safe and comfortable with. That might be your:

• carer
• family member
• guardian. A guardian is a person who helps you make decisions about parts of your life when you cannot make decisions by yourself. 
• friends
• support worker.

To find out more about asking for help visit Communicating about my mental health.

It is OK if you do not want to communicate with these people. To communicate is how you understand and share your feelings or information. You can get help elsewhere. Your support network may also need to get ideas from others as to how they can help you best.

Below are some different places you can go to get support for your mental health. Where you go and who you see will depend on your situation. There are some ideas for different situations below.

 

Help in a crisis

 

A crisis is when you are in danger or are very upset.

 

If you or someone else is in danger and need help now:

• call 000 for an ambulance or the police

or

• go to an emergency department at a hospital

Emergency departments are sometimes called ED. The emergency department is usually where you go if you have an urgent health problem, especially if you cannot get the help you need in the community.

You do not need an appointment to go to an emergency department.

You can ask someone you trust to take you to the emergency department.

 

Emergency help card

An emergency help card can keep you and others safe in a crisis. An emergency help card can support you and others to:

• know what to do in a crisis
• know who to contact in a crisis
• call phone lines that can support you in a crisis

You can use the Emergency help card template to make an Emergency Card that is right for you.

 

If you are very upset and need to speak to someone now you can:

• communicate with someone you trust. This could be your:
  • carer
  • family member
  • support worker
  • friend.

• call phone lines such as:
  • Lifeline 13 11 14 – 24 hours a day 7 days a week
    • Webchat – 12 noon to 6am
    • Text 0477 13 11 14 – 12 noon to 6am
  • NSW Mental Health Line 1800 011 511
    • You can ring the Mental Health Line any time, on any day. The mental health worker will ask you questions about your mental health and what sort of help you need. They may refer you to the local mental health team or they may give you information and contact details about other services that can help you.
  • Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467
  • MensLine Australia 1300 78 99 78
  • Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636

 

You can also get support from your:

• GP (general practitioner). Your GP is your regular doctor.
• psychologist or psychiatrist if you have one

They may not be able to speak to you right away but will be able to help you.

 

Seeing a GP (General practitioner)

 

A GP is the doctor that you see when are sick or need a health check. A GP is also known as a general practitioner.

Your GP is usually the first health worker to see about your mental health. They can help you if you think you may have a mental health problem. A mental health problem is when your feelings start to worry you. It can be when you cannot control your feelings. Your GP may suggest you see a mental health worker if you need more help. This is known as making a referral.

 

How to see a GP

• If you have a regular GP, call the GP’s office or you may be able to book online. You can also ask someone to call for you.
• If you do not have a GP, you can:
  • ask someone you trust who lives near you to suggest a good GP
  • ask a local chemist for their suggestions
  • search for a GP in your area at the Australian Government’s healthdirect website.

 

Seeing a psychologist

 

A psychologist helps you with your mental health by talking with you. Psychologists help you find things you can do to feel better. Psychologists do not give you medication.

Medication is sometimes called medicine or drugs. Medicine can be in a tablet, a pill, a drink, or an injection. Doctors let people know which medicine to take to help make them better.

There are different types of psychologists.

Clinical psychologists have specialist training in treating mental health problems. A mental illness is when your feelings and thoughts make it hard to do things.

Another type of psychologist is a neuropsychologist. A neuropsychologist knows a lot about how the brain works. They do assessments to find out what your strengths are and what you may need support with.

 

To find a psychologist you can:

• speak to your GP. You may be able to get a Mental Health Treatment Plan. People who have been told they have a mental health disorder by a doctor can get a rebate for sessions of psychological support through Medicare. A rebate means you get some money back. You may still have to pay some money. For more information see the healthdirect website.
• visit the Australian Psychological Society Find a Psychologist page
• visit AHPRA for a therapist registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.

 

Seeing a counsellor

 

A counsellor communicates with you about issues in your life and helps you fix them.  You can see a counsellor if stressful things happen in your life, or you are worried about the future.

Counselling is discussing issues in your life with a health worker who can help you.

 

To find a counsellor you can:

• ask someone you trust for help
• search for a registered counsellor through the Australian Counselling Association
• ask your GP, who can refer you to a counsellor
• get support from SANE Australia who have a free service offering counselling. Counsellors are available via phone, webchat, or email from 10am to 10pm Monday to Friday. They will listen to what is concerning you and give ideas for longer-term help.
  • Call 1800 187 263 or
  • Go to SANE Australia Counselling support
  • SANE also has a new Guided service that has begun in some areas of Australia. This service offers free online and telehealth support to people 18 years or older with complex mental health needs. Support is available for people with intellectual disability or autism. There is also support for families and carers.

Note: you may have to pay to see a counsellor. Ask your GP or National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Support Coordinator about your options.

 

Support online and over the phone

 

There is information online about how to have good mental health and how to cope with mental health problems.

There are many places you can find information online. For example:

• the Council for Intellectual Disability has a great resource with Tips to help mental health

• there is a program called Healthy Mind that can help with your mental health. This tool was created for people with intellectual disability.

• THIS WAY UP has some good resources to help you cope with tough times. They also have resources in other languages.

• the Black Dog Institute has other online tools not created specifically for people with intellectual disability that may also be helpful

• these websites also have good information about mental health
  • Beyond Blue
  • headspace for young people

 

You can also call services that can provide help and advise you on what to do next. For example:

• Lifeline 13 11 14 - 24 hours a day 7 days a week
  • Webchat - 12 noon to 6am
  • Text 0477 13 11 14 - 12 noon to 6am

• Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636

• WayAhead Mental Health Information Service 1300 794 991

• MensLine Australia 1300 78 99 78