Despite what you may think, you are not alone, we all have good and bad days. Then there are those days when everything seems a bit too much. No matter who you are, whatever it may be, at LIVIN we know first-hand how speaking up can help you to start feeling better again. Needing support does not mean you are weak, it does not mean that you are crazy, a psycho, a weirdo, it is actually a very human thing to need the support of others every now and then. So, let’s start looking at things a little differently, a little more realistically, ‘It Ain’t Weak to Speak’, in fact it takes a hell of a lot of ticker to ‘Speak Up’.
If you or someone you know is having one of those days when everything seems a bit too much, follow the steps below to start feeling like you’re LIVIN again!
Emergency Support: If you or someone you know are in an emergency, or at immediate risk of harm to yourself or others, please contact emergency services on 000.
Suicide and Crisis Support: To talk to someone RIGHT NOW contact:
In an emergency, you can also visit your local hospital’s emergency department.
Please note that the information in this section (or anywhere on this site) is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, so please see a qualified health provider if you have any health concerns.
We all have good and bad days. Then there are those days when everything seems a bit too much. The following is a list of the symptoms that may be experienced by someone with mental health issues.
If you are experiencing one or more of the above symptoms, or you do not feel like your usual self and this is causing you personal distress and/ or preventing you from doing the things you would normally do, then please contact a professional, at least for a quick chat so they can see how you are doing. You do not need to be fighting this battle alone!
It can be hard to know what to do when supporting someone that is in a mentally bad way. Our information is aimed at helping mates and family support their loved ones and take care of themselves too.
If you are worried about a family member or close mate here are some suggestions for what to do:
Online resources containing tips on how to start a conversation with someone you are concerned about have been developed by the Hunter Institute of Mental Health. Visit the Conversations Matter website.
A great place to start in getting help is to utilise the people around you, your social supports. People often underestimate how valuable it can be speaking with a family member, their mates, their colleagues at work. We know it’s easier said than done, but ‘Speak Up’; simply talking to someone you know and trust can be very therapeutic.
If you think what you are going through is a little beyond the expertise of your social supports, go and speak with your local general practitioner (GP). Your GP will have a good chat with you and, if need be, refer you to someone such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, counsellor or social worker.
If you know you would like to speak with a mental health professional (e.g. psychiatrist, psychologist or counsellor), you will need a referral from your GP. In the same way you can get a Medicare benefit when you see a doctor, you can also get part or all of the consultation fees subsidised when you see certain mental health professionals for treatment of mental health issues.
Importantly, if you do not feel like you are connecting with your treating mental health professional over a period of time, politely request to speak with someone else. It is very important that you give yourself time to find the right fit for you. Don’t give up, sometimes the right fit can take a little bit of time – like a comfy pair of shoes, sometimes you need to try a couple on before you find the right fit for you.
A support group is a small group of people with a particular condition, such as depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder, who meet regularly to discuss their experiences, their problems and strategies for coping. Some support groups meet online.
Research shows that hearing from and sharing with others your experiences can be very helpful. A support group can provide the following gains:
Support groups also exist for family and friends of those experiencing mental health issues.
For more information on support groups run by qualified psychologists for people living with depression, bipolar disorder and anxiety visit: https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/getting-help/clinics-support-groups/our-support-groups
1 in 5 people will experience a mental illness each year. Many suffer in silence due to the stigma and lack of education around mental health. LIVIN is helping change this. Each flag represents where we have delivered our LIVINWell In School program. Help us fill the map and spread the word that “It ain’t weak to speak”.
