Supporting and promoting the well-being of mental health carers and their families.
Mental Health Carers Austalia.
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16-07-2020 04:17 AM
16-07-2020 04:17 AM
Don’t know how or where to start...
Hi! I'm new and I got to this forum by sheer frustration brought on by my twenty year old son with PTSD. I feel alone, frustrated and angry with not knowing what to do and who to turn to for help! My family is breaking up because of him!
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16-07-2020 04:28 AM
16-07-2020 04:28 AM
Re: Don’t know how or where to start...
Thanks for your post, I am one of the moderators here. I am sorry to hear the difficulties with your son, I'm sure the forum and its members will support and aid you.
Dockers6
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16-07-2020 03:06 PM
16-07-2020 03:06 PM
Re: Don’t know how or where to start...
I just wanted to welcome you to the forums
Things sound really difficult right now and it's great that you have reached out for some support! It certainly sounds as though you are experiencing a roller coaster ride of emotions; not to mention the isolation, frustration and confusion that can often be experienced when trying to find support and navigate a sea of different services!
I wasn't too sure if you were seeking support for your son, yourself or for both of you?
I thought that I would take a bit of a guess and offer you a few different ideas, but please reach out again if this doesn't quite hit the mark If you put @ in front of a community members user name (for example @ShiningStar) this will let that person know that you have replied to them
I just wondered if your son has a GP that he feels comfortable talking to? If he does, he could make an appointment with them to complete a Mental Health Care Plan. Basically this supports people who are living with certain mental health issues to access a total of 10 subsidised counselling appointments with a Psychologist (or another approved mental health professional) in a calendar year. As such, he will receive a rebate through Medicare.
If your son is interested in receiving this support, he will need to make sure that he books a longer appointment with his GP, as it takes a little bit of time to complete the paperwork!
Sometimes GP's can recommend a particular Psychologist and so they can address the Mental Health Care Plan to that professional. However, if they don't know of anyone, you can always visit the Australian Psychological Society and search their database to find someone who specialises in PTSD and who is located in an area near you. Their website is www.psychology.org.au Your GP could then address your son's Mental Health Care Plan to this particular person.
Given how difficult things are for you right now, I just wondered if receiving some support through a Psychologist may also be helpful for you? Sometimes family members can find it really valuable to be able to share their experiences of caring for a loved one who has a mental health issue and receive some much needed care and emotional support. If you were interested, it maybe worthwhile talking with your GP to see if you can also access this support with a Mental Health Care Plan.
Alternatively, your son could ask his GP for a referral to a Psychiatrist which would also attract a Medicare rebate. Sometimes this can make attending appointments a little bit more affordable!
There are also mental health services provided through the public health care system. However, from my understanding the eligibility criteria and pathways to access these services varies depending on what state you live in. However, if your son was interested in receiving support through the public health care system, his GP maybe able to highlight some of his options and co-ordinate any necessary referrals on his behalf.
There are also specific mental health services especially designed to support young people. One that comes to mind is an organisation called Headspace. They support young people aged 12 to 25 years of age. I'm not sure what state you live in, but if you felt comfortable and if this was of interest to your son, you could visit their website at www.headspace.org.au to see if they have a service near you.
The SANE helpline also provides support for family, friends and those caring for a person who lives with mental health issues. If you felt comfortable, you could always contact them for some interim support. The helpline is staffed by qualified mental health professionals. They are available Monday to Friday from 10am until 10pm (Australian Eastern Standard Time). Their contact number is: 1800 18 72 63. You can also connect with them via email and webchat if this feels more comfortable for you.
I hope this helps
Take care ...
ShiningStar