- Information regarding diagnosis, treatment and medication
- Carer organisations
- Other organisations
- Where to go for help
- Location of the service
Information regarding diagnosis, treatment and medication
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) has developed a number of guidelines to assist you to gain a deeper understanding of specific diagnoses. These are available in printed form or from the RANZCP website.Carer organisations
Carer Advisory and Counselling Service
This organization can refer you to services and tailored information and resources to support you in your role. They can also provide you with a Carer Support Kit containing general information about issues such as looking after yourself, managing health care and medications, loss and grief and an Emergency Care Kit.Call Freecall 1800 242 636
Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centres
Provide assistance to carers to access respite or to take a break and provides information about community and aged care services. They can provide information and advice about respite options and help with organizing planned or emergency respite.Visit the Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centres website or call Freecall 1800 052 222. For after hours emergency respite call Freecall 1800 059 059.
The Association of Relatives and Friends of the Mentally Ill (ARAFMI)
ARAFMI's aims are to:- Ensure state and federal governments recognise the role, contribution and needs of carers.
- Advocate for policy changes and improve services to address carer needs.
- Support carer involvement in the planning, delivery and evaluation of services for people with mental illness and their carers.
- Facilitate communication between carers and government.
- Establish partnerships between carers and service providers.
- Encourage research on best practice in carer support. Top of page
- Regular meetings with the Mental Health Branch;
- Letters, submissions, deputations;
- Liaison and representation on government committees.
- Sit on interview panels for staff selection of mental health services staff;
- Represent carers at mental health service quality meetings;
- Represent carers at mental health service strategy workshops;
- Advise mental health services on carer issues and perspectives.
Ph: (02) 9332 0700 or regional: 1800 655 198
ARAFMI QLD 24 hour support line
Ph: (07) 3254 1881 or regional: 1800 351 881
ARAFMI TAS
Ph: (03) 6228 7448
Mental Health Carers NT (formerly NT ARAFMI)
Ph: (08) 8948 1051
ARAFMI WA
Ph: (08) 9427 7100 or rural: 1800 811 747
Other organisations
There are a number of other organisations available for support. Many have a website with generally a lot of information which you might find helpful. Others have support telephone services.- Carers Australia (national) - for family carer support and counselling you can contact your state or territory Carers Association on the same telephone number
Ph: 1800 187 263
Carers Australia website - SANE
SANE website - Beyondblue: the national depression initiative
Ph: 1300 224 636
Beyondblue website - Mental Illness Fellowship Australia (MIFA)
Phone: (08) 8272 1018
MIFA website - Multi Cultural Mental Health Australia (MMHA)
Phone: (02) 9840 3333
MMHA website - Orygen Youth Health
Phone: (03) 9342 2800
Orygen Youth Health website - Headspace - Kids Help Line - a 24-hour telephone and online counselling service for 5 to 25 year olds in Australia.
Phone: 1800 551 800
Headspace website - CounsellingOnline - free alcohol and drug counselling online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Phone: 1800 888 236 (Counselling)
CounsellingOnline website - Alzheimers Australia National Dementia helpline
Phone: 1800 100 500
Interpreter: 131 450
Alzheimers Australia website - Alcoholics Anonymous - list of telephone contacts
Alcoholics Anonymous website - Grow - list of state groups
Grow website - Anglicare - list of state contacts
Anglicare website - Centrecare - list of state contacts
Centrecare website - Relationships Australia - list of state contacts
Relationships Australia website - YWCA - list of state contacts
YWCA website Top of page
Where to go for help
- Your general practitioner
- Your community health centre
- Your community mental health centre
Lifeline on 13 11 14 - 24 hour confidential telephone counselling to anyone within Australia.
For information on services, check the Community Help and Welfare Services and 24-hour emergency numbers in your local telephone directory.
Location of the service
It is suggested that this becomes an insert within this booklet.<Insert name and address of the service>
Phone:
Email:
The service is located between <insert landmark> and <insert landmark>, close to <insert landmark> and has good access to public transport.
<Insert image from street directory>
Trams: <insert information>
Trains: The closes train station is <insert name>
Buses: <insert information>
Visiting hours: Carers, family and friends may visit outside of program hours, from <insert time> am to <insert time> pm weekdays and 9 am – 8:30 pm over the weekend. Whilst we appreciate the importance of retaining close contact with families and friends, it is also important that the person you care for participates in all therapeutic activities appropriate to the stage of their illness. We understand that some families may live some distance from the hospital and therefore will need a degree of flexibility in visiting times.