According to the World Health Organisation, mental health is a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realise their abilities, learn and work well, and contribute to their community. This broad definition suggests mental health problems can have negative impacts on many aspects of people’s lives including work, relationships, housing, study and the ability to thrive.
There is increasing awareness of how widespread mental health problems are. The topic, which was once stigmatised and seldom discussed, is gaining greater awareness in the media, in workplaces and community in general. However, many people still face difficulties in addressing mental health challenges. The reasons for this are complex.
For one thing, often mental health issues develop gradually. It’s not like getting the flu, where the onset is rapid and obvious. People may not notice for example, that their mood is gradually worsening. Because the changes are slow and cumulative, they may lose perspective and come to believe they have always felt this way. They may not consider reaching out for help until they have reached crisis point. They may therefore miss out on the potential to slow down and halt the development of the problem.
Another potential obstacle is that many people may struggle with expressing that they are experiencing mental health challenges. They may believe they should be able to sort it out on their own. It may feel embarrassing and exposing to share their concerns with others. There may be a fear of judgment or rejection.
A third factor could be a lack of awareness of the range of options available to help promote psychological wellbeing and to address mental health problems. There is a vast array of services, both public and private, but many people have little awareness of this. Even if they have some knowledge, they may still need help to find the most appropriate help for themselves.
Health services are still largely focused on treating problems once they have arisen, rather than trying to prevent them in the first place. This bias is reflected in many people’s thinking. There is still a widespread lack of understanding of the many ways we can promote and maintain good mental health, despite the rise of the wellness industry. Even when people are aware of potential strategies it can be difficult putting them into practice.
While there are many factors impacting when and how to address mental health concerns, the reality is that virtually all of us face psychological challenges during the course of our lives. Life can be stressful. At times we feel down or can’t stop worrying. Our sleep may be disturbed. We may feel a sense of loss of purpose and meaning in life. We may find ourselves struggling to maintain our relationships. There may be an indefinable but undeniable growing awareness we are not living how we want to live.
These are just some of the many ways in which we may start to experience distress and feel like our minds are not working to our advantage. They are all common aspects of the human condition in our complex and challenging world. Some other mental health problems people may experience can be much more dramatic and disturbing, such as hearing voices, mania, and delusional ideas.
If we are lucky, we could be able to deal with these issues on our own. We may recognise there is a problem and develop or reactivate behaviours and strategies that help this resolve over time. Sometimes we might be able to access informal support from friends and family. However, there are times we realise we are not coping and we need support. There may be times when we become aware that family members, friends or colleagues are struggling and may benefit from support. What is our best course of action?
Firstly, it’s important to realise there is rarely only one correct option. If the situation is acute and potentially life threatening, presenting to an emergency department as soon as possible is indicated. This is particularly relevant if someone is experiencing suicidal or homicidal thoughts, especially if they are starting to make a plan and have the means to carry it out. If such an individual refuses to seek help it may be necessary to involve the police in doing a welfare check. It may also be appropriate to attend ED if someone is experiencing severe psychotic symptoms including hallucinations and delusions. However, while such scenarios are relatively uncommon, they are just a small selection of all the many mental health challenges people may face.
Helplines
For all the other non-acute scenarios, ideally one starts by using the simplest lowest-cost option with the least possible complications. If one has a working phone, the quickest and easiest options is to call a helpline like 1800 HERE4U (1800 437348) and talk with a skilled counsellor. This offers multiple potential benefits.
Talking on the phone offers a degree of confidentiality and anonymity, making it easier for people to share the challenges they are facing. Sometimes just talking and expressing how one is feeling can be helpful. However, the counsellors at 1800 HERE4U also offer a practical solution-focused approach that helps callers to identify positive steps they can take on their own to address their concerns. Dealing with mental health challenges may take time, and people can call 1800 HERE4U as often as they need. Counsellors at 1800 HERE4U come from a range of professions, including psychology, social work and nursing, and offer a wealth of experience to their callers. This experience allows counsellors to recognise when callers need to be referred to other services and means they are familiar with a great variety of services and options that might assist callers.
Another helpline is Head to Health on 1800 595 212. They offer mental health advice, support, and can help callers find the most appropriate local mental health services and supports. A free call can be made to Head to Health between 8.30am - 5pm weekdays.
Other helplines include Lifeline on 13 11 14 and The Samaritans on 08 6383 9850.
GPs
One of the most common treatment options is to see a General Practitioner (GP). In Australia GPs are the first clinicians seen for most health issues other than emergencies. Under Medicare, GP’s can create a Mental Health Care Plan which may involve prescribing medications as well as referrals to psychologists or psychiatrists. GPs may also suggest lifestyle changes and other relevant services or options.
Ideally a person can seek help from a GP who is interested, sympathetic, knowledgeable and able to offer informed non-judgmental support. However, not all GPs have equal experience and/or interest in mental health issues. Some GPs may lack experience and education in the field or hold views about mental health which may affect their clinical judgment. If this is the case, people are always free to seek an alternative GP.
Psychologists and psychiatrists
It is still common for people to be confused about the distinction between psychologists and psychiatrists. While both deal with mental health issues it is important to understand the difference since it determines the type of support offered.
Psychiatrists are practitioners who have trained and qualified as medical doctors and then specialised in the field of mental health. People in the community can usually only see a psychiatrist with a referral from a GP (or by presenting to ED, where they may be assessed by a psychiatrist if having a mental health crisis). People generally seek referral to a psychiatrist if requiring specialist treatment for their mental health concerns, and this almost always will involve psychiatric medications. People who believe they may have ADHD/ADD have to be assessed by a psychiatrist if they wish to access medications for this diagnosis.
Psychologists are not medical doctors and do not prescribe medications. They are registered practitioners who have completed a psychology degree as well as post-graduate studies. They offer the possibility of speaking to a highly trained health professional about mental health concerns and developing strategies to manage these conditions. There are a variety of different categories of psychologist, but most people seeking help with mental health issues would see either a clinical or counselling psychologist.
Anyone can see a psychologist without a doctor’s referral. Practitioners can be located on the Australian Psychological Society (APS) website and approached directly by the client. However, any referral made by a GP to a psychologist under a Mental Health Care Plan qualifies for Medicare rebates, though there may still be a gap payment due. This can make seeing a psychologist more affordable.
Community Mental Health Clinics
There are clinics attached to the community mental health services which cover the whole of Western Australia. Many of these offer a triage service during office hours for people with mental health concerns. However, if someone is having acute mental health problems and needing urgent attention, it is generally preferable for them to attend an emergency department.
Drop in services
Head to Health centres are a safe and welcoming space offering clients the opportunity to talk to someone if they, or someone they care about, is in distress or need help finding the right mental health support. Anyone who is looking for mental health information, services and support for themselves or someone they care about can attend one of the centres in Perth, located in Mirrabooka, Midland, Gosnells and Armadale.
Parent and Family Peer support
There is increasing awareness that people with lived experience of mental health challenges can make a valuable contribution within mental health services. Parent and Family Peer Volunteers are nowadays found working in many inpatient settings to support people with mental health issues, and there are also services in the community that utilise this lived experience. These include:
- Consumers of Mental Health WA (COMHWA) https://comhwa.org.au/ ,
- Mental Illness Fellowship of WA (MIFWA) https://www.mifwa.org.au/contact/ and
- GROW https://grow.org.au/
Internet based resources
There are many different options available online offering a variety of services including information and resources, discussion and support forums, and live chat. Some of the available options include:
- Mental Health Commission (https://www.mhc.wa.gov.au/ )
- Think Mental Health (https://www.thinkmentalhealthwa.com.au/ )
- Mindspot (https://www.mindspot.org.au/ )
- Lifeline (https://www.lifeline.org.au/ )
- Black Dog Institute (https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/ )
- Sane (https://www.sane.org/ )
- Flourish Australia (https://www.flourishaustralia.org.au/ )
- Head to health (https://www.headtohealth.gov.au/ )
- Health Direct (https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/mental-health-resources )
- My Mental Health (https://mymentalhealth.org.au/ )
- The Samaritans (https://thesamaritans.org.au/ )
Conclusion
Looking after our psychological wellbeing is a life-long journey. Even if we are very proactive about looking after our mental health, most of us experience challenges during our lives. Some of these difficult periods may pass without seeking support from services. We may get through them on our own or with support from family and friends.
However, an awareness of the range of resources and options available may provide a sense of choice which is empowering when we are struggling. If we choose to access these support options it may help the troubled times to pass quicker and to result in less adverse consequences. Professional support may also help us to learn self-care skills and strategies which can help us to lead happier, healthier and more meaningful lives.
Gordon Hudson has worked as a counsellor at the Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health Support Service since 2007. In 2023 he published his self-help book “Change your mind (and kick that habit)”.
Page last updated8 January 2025
