Hey @frozenA 😊
Thank you so much for sharing this with us! This is such a powerful post and you have raised some really significant challenges that many people experience with accessing mental health services.
I also wanted to acknowledge the fact that you have finally been able to get out there and will be seeing a psychologist soon. It can be really tough to take this step, so you should be really proud of yourself for this!
I think many people reading this will be able to relate to a lot of the points you have highlighted and I’m sure it will bring a lot of comfort to others knowing that they too are not alone in experiencing this.
I know you have shared some really important points and I wanted to share some things that may help with these.
Cost: We have a really great article here which goes into detail about how to get professional help if you don’t have much money.
- If you are able to get a mental health plan through your GP, there may be a rebate on some of your yearly psychologist sessions and this is something that you can talk to your GP about.
- If you are at university, TAFE or school, you may be able to access mental health support if your school/university has services for that.
- If you are working, your work may provide an EAP (Employee Access Program) where you can access mental health support through your work.
- There are also several free mental health services such as KidsHelpline which provides one on one counselling for people aged up to 25. You can also book a session with ReachOut PeerChat if you are over 18!
Finding the right fit: There are several different types of mental health professionals and while finding the right fit can sometimes be a challenge, we have an article here which provides some tips that might help with this.
Stigma: This is a really important one and I am really glad that you have shared this. It takes a lot of courage to reach out for support, especially if there is a lack of understanding about mental health within families, or communities. Even the simple fact of just speaking about this in the community like you have is helping to break down this stigma and I hope that we all continue to openly discuss this in a safe space.
I wanted to thank you again for sharing such a powerful and important post with us all! These are really important conversations and I know that many people experience this and you are certainly not alone.
Take care
