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Getting help

If you or someone you care about is experiencing mental illness, you need to know you are not alone. There is a great deal of help available within the community.

Non-government and community organisations (not necessarily hospitals) have key roles in providing non-clinical personal care and support to people living with mental illness, their families and carers.

Your first step to getting help is to:

  • contact your doctor to discuss your concerns and ask for an assessment or referral or
  • phone 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) for 24 hour assessment, referral, advice and contact details of your local hospital or community health centre.

The support you receive will be about recovery and living well, regardless of the impact of the illness, its treatment and your personal situation.

Help available in the community

If you need urgent support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or the Salvo Care Line on 1300 36 36 22 where counsellors are available 24 hours a day.

If life is in immediate danger, phone the police or ambulance on 000.

  • 13 HEALTH phone 13 43 25 84 (24 hour assessment, referral, advice and contacts for your local hospital or community health centre).
  • ARAFMI phone 1800 351 881 (24 hour support for family, friends and carers of people with mental illness).
  • Beyondblue Info Line phone 1300 224 636 (24 hour information and referral about depression and anxiety).
  • Mental Health Association of Queensland phone 1300 729 686 (8.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday, mental health information and referral).
  • Parentline phone 1300 301 300 (support, counselling and parent education from 8am to 10pm).
  • SANE helpline phone 1800 187 263 (information, advice and referral on mental illness).

What will help cost?

Under the Australian Government's Better Access program, Medicare rebates are available for a range of mental health treatments, including individual consultations and group therapy sessions with a mental health professional.

To quality for rebates, you need a referral from a general practitioner or psychiatrist. Ask at your doctor's clinic about costs involved before starting any treatment plan.

Help for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds

Mental health information

Queenslanders now have access to comprehensive mental health information via phone and email. mhConnect, an initiative of the Mental Health Association of Queensland, provides details of local service providers, support groups, community groups and other mental health related services to people across the state. Anyone with an enquiry can phone 1300 729 686 or email info@mentalhealth.org.au.

Assistance for Deaf community

The National Auslan Interpreter Booking and Payment Service provides interpreters for people who use sign language and would like an interpreter for private medical appointments.

 

Licence
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia (CC BY 3.0)
Last updated:
7 December 2012

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