Do I need to get help?
How can I get help to get diagnosed?
How can I get help to get well?
How can I get help to stay well?
How can I get urgent help?
What should I do if I'm not happy with the help I am getting?
Do I need to get help?
It can be hard to know whether you or someone you know needs help for depression, anxiety and related disorders.
Step 1: Find out about it
A good first step in understanding whether help is needed is to get information on the disorder you think you/or the person you know might have. Find out more about:
Step 2: Complete symptom checklists
You can get a better idea of whether you might need help by filling out the symptom checklists available on our website. Complete a symptom checklist about:
How can I get help to get diagnosed?
Understanding about depression, anxiety and related disorders can help you understand whether you might have these conditions and it is important that you seek professional advice.
Step 1: Seek professional help
Visiting a doctor who is a General Practitioner (GP) is a good way of starting this process. It is advisable to start with a GP that you have been to before as they have your medical history and this will help them understand your situation better. If your GP is unavailable you may want to see another GP who works in your practice. If you don't have a regular GP or clinic you can find a GP in your area who has had extra training in mental health by going to Find a Doctor or other Mental Health Practitioner .
Step 2: Get the most out of your first appointment
Getting the most out of your first appointment is important in getting diagnosed. The following tips may help you get help:
- Make a long appointment so that you and your GP don't feel rushed
- Take along your completed checklist to remind you what symptoms are concerning you
- Ask a friend or family member to go with you if you think it will make the experience more comfortable
- Find out about payment when you make the appointment. You can find out more about Medicare assistance for mental health problems by downloading the beyondblue Fact Sheet 24 - Help for depression under Medicare.
How can I get help to get well?
There are a range of effective treatments and helpful services for treating depression, anxiety and related disorders:
Step 1: Find out what treatments are available
FInd out what treatments are available for:
Step 2: Find out who provides these treatments
To find out who will provide these treatments go to Fact Sheet 4 - Types of help available
How can I get help to stay well?
Step 1: Plan for recovery
Depression, anxiety and related disorders are disorders from which most people recover. However, for many it involves ongoing work to stay well. For general information on how to plan for recovery download beyondblue Fact Sheet 15 - Recovery .
Step 2: Help yourself
Find out about how you can help yourself stay well if you have:
Depression
Anxiety disorders
Bipolar disorder
Postnatal depression
Fnd out how family and friends can help you stay well if you have:
Depression
Anxiety disorders
Bipolar disorder
Postnatal depression
How can I get urgent help?
If you or someone you know is at risk of harming themselves or someone else it is important you get help immediately. You can take the first step in doing this by:
- Speaking to your doctor (GP or psychiatrist)
- Calling the Psychiatric Team at your nearest hospital
- Calling Lifeline 13 11 14 or Suicide Helpline (Victoria only) - 1300 651 251
- If the person is threatening to harm you call the police on 000
Some tips for getting urgent help include:
- Express the urgency of the matter without becoming aggressive
- Speak clearly
- Give the health professional specific examples of concerns
- Give a brief history of self harm or harm to others
- Ensure that you listen to their advice
- If they are unable to help, ask them why and who you should contact
What should I do if I'm not happy with the help I am getting?
Many people have different opinions on what treatment is best and how it should occur. If you are concerned about the type of treatment you are receiving or the way you are getting it you should:
Step 1: Seek information
Find out as much as you can about the treatment and the service/professionals that provide it. Find out what treatments are available for:
Find out about other peoples' experiences. Consumer consultants provide information and support to people with a mental illness being treated in the public mental health system and can be contacted at many of the public mental health services in Australia.
Step 2: Speak to the treating health professional
Mentioning your concerns to the treating health professional can help you understand the treatment better. It also lets the health professional know you are interested in being involved in the treatment plan of the person you care for.
Step 3: Speak to the manager
If you feel intimidated or do not believe the treating health professional is taking your concerns seriously, ask to speak to a person senior to the professional such as a senior doctor, manager or director of the service.
Step 4: Lodge a formal complaint
Most services in the community and hospitals have a complaints procedure and Complaints Liaison Officer or a patient representative who can assist with complaints. Many hospitals also have social workers who can listen to your concerns, follow it up with the professionals involved and act as a liaison for you. If you are being treated in a setting that doesn't have a Complaints Liaison Officer you can look at lodging a formal complaint against a health professional at the Health Complaints Commission in your state or territory by calling:
ACT - (02) 6205 2222
NSW - 1800 043 159
NT - 1800 043 159
QLD - 07 3234 0272
VIC - 1800 136 066
SA - 1800 182 150
TAS - 1300 766 725
WA - 1800 813 583
A large part of providing people visiting the beyondblue website with the best information possible is linking to external services. All services linked to in this website have undergone a thorough review process.
Below are the criteria for linking to external services:
- Information directly related to depression, anxiety and/or a related substance abuse disorder
- Australian based service
- No affiliations with commercial enterprises (ie drug companies)
- Provide an evidence based treatment provided by a qualified mental health professionals. For more information on what a qualified mental health professional is click here
While beyondblue reviews information relating to these services it is important to note that they are not operated or controlled by beyondblue. Links are provided for convenience only and may not be current. Provision of a link should not be construed as an endorsement or approval of the third party service or website by beyondblue.
beyondblue is not responsible for the content of third party services or websites, which are not covered by these Terms of Use. Users access those services at their own risk.
