Hi Recovery Options Community! 

Bek here! 

When I was a chaplain, I learnt lots about mental health and supporting people who are not doing so well. I realised that the stuff I learnt is so relevant, but not common knowledge. So, I thought I’d share:  WHAT TO DO IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU LOVE IS STRUGGLING WITH THEIR MENTAL HEALTH…

It’s so great to talk with someone when struggling with your mental health. And it’s so important to listen when someone lets us know about their own struggles. But don’t just leave it there. Finding the right help can take time, so it’s important to know the process and act early to get help.

If you ask someone (including yourself) “Are you ok?” and the answer is “No/the world is overwhelming/I’m not coping/I just wish I was dead/I wanna die/I’m just anxious all the time/I haven’t slept in days.” here’s the next steps to take:

1) FIRSTLY If you/they are an immediate risk to themselves – Call 000 and request a police welfare check. 

2) If there is no immediate danger, encourage someone who is struggling to get help. When getting someone help, I mean professional help. If someone came to you with a broken arm, you’d send them to a doctor. Same with mental health – it’s still health. Tell your loved one that it sounds like they need to see a doctor; that they might benefit from a Mental Health Plan (MHP). Offer to go with them. Offer to follow up the next day to see how they went. 

3) Let them know you’re glad they were brave enough to share and give them a copy of 24/7 support lines: 

• The CAT Team (Crisis Assessment and Treatment Team) is a 24/7 mental health triage line. You could call them on 1300 721 927 together. 
• beyondblue.org.au
• lifeline.org.au 
• suicideline.org.au
• After Hours Mental Health Nursing Service
• Health Direct 

4) When you/they book that appt, let the receptionist know it’s an appointment to get a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) and that you need a DOUBLE appt. It needs to be long enough to ask questions.

5) When you/they see the GP for a MHCP, they are likely to ask a series of questions about what life’s been like in the past month. Sometimes they’ll do what’s called a K10 assessment. It’s just an assessment of risk. This should determine if, for health, there is need/benefit in extra treatment.

6) If the assessment shows high indicators of stress, anxiety or depression you/they will be eligible for a Mental Health Care Plan. A MHCP is a Medicare subsidised support system. It offers up to 10 subsidised sessions with a psychologist. The MHCP lasts 12 months and you can get a new one each year.

7) The doctor should give a referral letter to see a psychologist or (in more serious cases) a psychiatrist. Advocate that a referral letter be given to you/them.

8) There are a number of psychologists around. I can highly recommend Mt Evelyn Counselling locally. For NDIS clients, the Kalinda Wellbeing Centre in Healesville comes recommended. However, a good GP should also give a list of local psychologists that fulfill MHCPs. Ask for this list. Not every psych is registered to give Medicare rebates. That’s fine, you can still see them. It’ll just cost you. The Medicare rebate however is currently between $93 and $137 so it’s a significant discount. 

9) The next step is calling and finding someone with availability to see new clients. This can take between 2 weeks and 3 months! Some psychologists may choose not to charge for any gap if there are financial difficulties at pay. It’s important to ask about this. If you/they are unable to see a psychologist for months, make sure another appt (or multiple) are booked with the GP. They will need to keep an eye out for worsening symptoms while you wait. 

10) Mental health work is like physical rehab. It can take a long time to see results. But you should begin see results/improvement after 3 or 4 visits. Usually, an initial appt will be a lot of unpacking of what’s been happening and getting a history. Different psychologists use different therapies. If you/they end up with someone who is not working/not a good fit, change practitioners (as you would a physio or osteo).

Thinking of you especially as you contemplate your own and others’ mental health today! Remember, you are not alone! For staff, we have the Employee Assistance Program with free counselling services. I’ve used them – they’re an excellent resource. Reach out if you need support!

Sincerely,

Bek

P.S. If you want to know more about mental health support for you and your loved ones, check out Health Direct.