Mental Health Caregiver Resources
Online Resources and Fact Sheets
Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists – Your Health in Mind
RANZCP run a website for carers with useful information and fact sheets about different mental health disorders
Website: https://www.yourhealthinmind.org/
Caring for someone with a mental illness fact sheet: https://www.yourhealthinmind.org/for-carers/caring-for-someone-with-a-mental-illness
Bipolar Disorder Guide: https://www.yourhealthinmind.org/getmedia/cbd55d69-ad65-492f-9f7e-4cb35b94ee4f/Bipolar-disorder-YHIM.pdf.aspx?ext=.pdf
Schizophrenia: https://www.yourhealthinmind.org/getmedia/50afd990-a2aa-4bde-afe3-87a0e37a25ee/Schizophrenia-YHIM.pdf.aspx?ext=.pdf
Lifeline Carers Toolkit: A self-help resource to help people living with mental illness https://www.lifeline.org.au/media/fchhhfwj/web__ll-4pp-tool-kit_carers-of-people-w-mental-illness.pdf
Medication information – NPS Medicinewise
NPS Medicinewise is hosted by Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care and provides information on prescribed medications in Australia.
Consumers can use the ‘Medicine Finder’ function to find information on prescribed medications https://www.nps.org.au/medicine-finder
WayAhead Directory Mental health Act carer Factsheet
https://directory.wayahead.org.au/carers-factsheet-mental-health-legislation/
Carers NSW Resources
Accessing mental Health Care info sheet: https://www.carersnsw.org.au/uploads/main/Files/2.Services-and-Support/Advice-for-Carers/Rights-and-Complaints/Carers-Fact-Sheet-5-Accessing-mental-health-services_V2.pdf
NSW Family and Carer Mental Health Program
The NSW Family and Carer Mental Health Program is a state wide program to improve the wellbeing of families and carers of people with mental health conditions.
Note that there is no current services ran in Eastern Sydney but still useful to keep in mind and see what is available.
https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/mentalhealth/services/carers/Pages/support.aspx
Orygen
Psychosis factsheets: https://www.orygen.org.au/Training/Resources/Psychosis/Fact-sheets
Transcultural Mental Health Centre
Translated fact sheets and language specific carer groups: https://www.dhi.health.nsw.gov.au/transcultural-mental-health-centre
SANE
Resources, drop in mental health support via phone and online for people living with mental illness and their families: https://www.sane.org/
CESPHN
List of referral pathways: https://cesphn.org.au/wp-content/uploads/All_Categories/HealthPathways/pdf/20230308_Additional_Mental_Health_Referral_Pathways_in_the_CESPHN_region.pdf
Contact numbers
Carer Gateway: 1800 422 737 (Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm)
National Mental Health Carer Helpline: 1300 554 660
Mental Health Line 1800 011 511 (24/7)
Transcultural Mental Health Line: 1800 648 911
Support groups and Forums
Carers NSW
Carers NSW have a range of groups and wellbeing workshops that are run I person and online across NSW for all types of carers.
Here is where you can locate a calendar of the events: https://www.carersnsw.org.au/training-events/upcomingevents?lat=33.8688197&lng=151.2092955&address=Sydney%20NSW%2C%20Australia
CESPHN funded Mental Health, Suicide Prevention, Drug and Alcohol and After Hours Services and Programs: https://www.carersnsw.org.au/training-events/upcomingevents?lat=33.8688197&lng=151.2092955&address=Sydney%20NSW%2C%20Australia
One Door
One Door is a mental health support organisation that have various supports and groups for both people living with mental illness and caregivers of people living with mental illness
Here is a list of the support groups around: https://www.onedoor.org.au/services/support-groups/support-groups-list
Note there are no groups ran within the St Vincent’s catchment area but they do offer these two online support groups
• Blokes Talk for Male Carers- 3rd Wednesday each month 12noon-1pm
• Mental Health Carers Support Group Online Mental Health Carers- 3rd Tuesday each month - 5.30pm - 6.30pm Online
Carers will need to contact the designated contact person for each group which is found by clicking the link above.