MENTAL HEALTH TOOLKIT GETTING HELP: WHO TO SPEAK TO & WHERE TO GO
MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES
INTRODUCTION
Many workers face intense pressures, from meeting deadlines to making critical decisions, all of which can strain mental resilience. Striving for excellence often means personal sacrifices, underlining the need to manage jobspecific stressors effectively.
Mental health is essential to professional effectiveness and performance. Unaddressed, it can compromise decision-making, productivity, and career progression, also affecting your personal life and relationships.
This guide is crafted to help you navigate mental health resources efficiently, offering the knowledge to address stress, burnout, anxiety, depression, or maintain work-life balance. This advice is general and not intended to be individual medical advice.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR NEEDS
You need to take time for self-reflection to pinpoint specific stressors or symptoms impacting your mental wellbeing. Recognising early signs, such as increased irritability, persistent fatigue, or changes in sleep patterns, can be the first step towards addressing them.
Familiarise yourself with common mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, and burnout, especially how they may present in demanding work contexts. This awareness can guide you in seeking the right help and communicating your needs effectively.
FIRST STEPS
Initiating your journey towards better mental health should begin with a consultation with your general practitioner (GP). As a primary healthcare provider, a GP can evaluate your mental health concerns and is a first step to specialised care.
A GP can:
• Provide you with basic counselling.
• Prescribe first-line treatments for various mental health conditions.
• Develop a mental health care plan and refer you to a psychologist — In Australia, Medicare currently rebates up to 10 sessions with a psychologist per year.
• Refer you to a psychiatrist — In Australia, Medicare currently rebates up to 50 sessions with a psychiatrist per year.
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CHOOSING THE RIGHT PROFESSIONAL
GP MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT
Health professionals will be trained in various modalities. It is worth persisting until you find a good ‘fit,’ as the relationship you have with your treatment provider forms a substantive part of the therapeutic framework for your recovery.
To choose someone, consider their expertise in specific mental health conditions and their experience with workrelated stress. Seeking recommendations from your GP or trusted friends/colleagues as well as researching their backgrounds can also guide your decision, ensuring alignment with your needs and treatment preferences.
TELEHEALTH
Telehealth services provide a flexible option to access mental health support. Since the COVID pandemic, telehealth services also have specific Medicare item numbers, allowing you to attend sessions via video. This can be a helpful option for those who work long or odd hours, or live far away from their chosen provider.’
PROVIDE BASIC COUNSELLING
PRESCRIBE FIRST-LINE TREATMENTS
DEVELOP MENTAL HEALTH CARE PLAN
REFER TO A PSYCHOLOGIST
THE REALM OF PROFESSIONAL SUPPORTS
PSYCHIATRISTS
Psychiatrists are medical doctors specialising in diagnosing and treating mental health conditions, often using medication alongside therapy. Some psychiatrists only prescribe medicine, some only provide psychotherapy, but many do both.
PSYCHOLOGISTS
Psychologists focus on therapeutic treatments for mental health issues, employing various psychotherapy techniques without prescribing medication.
COUSELLORS
Counsellors provide support for people experiencing emotional difficulties, offering a space to explore feelings and develop coping strategies. Medicare rebates are usually not available for counsellors, but oftentimes their lower fees account for this.
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FURTHER RESOURCES
While it would always be recommended that you have your own GP and any other relevant treatment providers, many organisations offer Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), which provide confidential counselling services to employees. These programs, when well executed, can be an invaluable resource for initial support and guidance.
Additionally, initiating conversations about mental health support within your workplace can reveal other available resources, such as flexible work arrangements ideally accommodating the diverse needs of all employees.
Beyond Blue have prepared a helpful resource that approaches how to talk to someone you’re worried about.
PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE
Depending on your cover, some funds offer additional coverage for those psychiatric and psychological treatments not covered by Medicare. Generally, you cannot claim 1:1 outpatient therapy but some private clinics run group or day programs which health funds can cover.
Insurance is also useful for inpatient admissions, whether you are very unwell, wanting to detox, or merely need respite.
CRISIS MANAGEMENT
While mental health is ideally dealt with proactively rather than reactively, if you or someone you know is at immediate risk, contacting these services or presenting to the nearest emergency department can provide necessary intervention.
Remember, seeking help in times of crisis is a courageous step toward safety and recovery.
CRISIS SERVICES
Lifeline lifeline.org.au
13 11 14
Suicide Call Back Service suicidecallbackservice.org.au
1300 659 467
Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre safesteps.org.au
1800 015 188
Sexual Assault Crisis Line sacl.com.au
1800 806 292
National Sexual Assault, Family &. Domestic Violence Counselling Line
1800respect.org.au
1800 737 732
Emergency Services
www.ecouch.com.au/info/emergency_help
000
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PUBLIC MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
Public mental health treatment services funded by the government are available to everybody and have crisis services embedded within them.
You can call these services or walk into any public hospital Emergency Department if you are critically or acutely unwell. They are geographically demarcated depending on where you live.
MENTAL HEALTH TRIAGE VICTORIA
health.vic.gov.au/mentalhealthservices
Mental health support and information with Victoria’s government-funded initiative. Access free, reliable advice online or over the phone. Explore symptom checkers, a comprehensive health A-Z guide, medication information, and guidance on available health services.
HEALTH DIRECT
healthdirect.gov.au
An Australian government-funded initiative that offers free, trusted health information and advice online and over the phone. It provides a range of healthcare information services, including symptom checkers, a health A-Z guide for various conditions, medication information, and guidance on health services.
REACHOUT
reachout.com/mental-healthissues/professional-help
Designed with – and specifically for –young people, ReachOut is 100% online, anonymous, and confidential, and lets young people connect on their terms.
BEYOND BLUE beyondblue.org.au
Beyond Blue works to raise awareness of depression, anxiety, and suicide prevention, reduce the stigma surrounding these issues and to encourage people to seek support when they need it.
PANDA panda.org.au
Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia – supports the mental health of parents and families during pregnancy and in their first year of parenthood.
RAISING CHILDREN
raisingchildren.net.au/grown-ups/ fathers/mental-health-wellbeing
Resources and insights on mental health and wellbeing for fathers at every stage of parenting. Including expert advice to personal stories, uncover ways to prioritise mental health, strengthen family bonds, and navigate the challenges of fatherhood.
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LEVERAGE EQUILIBRIUM
ABOUT EQUILIBRIUM
Equilibrium is an online program that provides businesses a long-term solution to maximise team performance, improve culture and retain talent, with measurable outcomes.
THE EQUILIBRIUM PROGRAM
The Equilibrium Program couples digital health and wellness education with practical sessions to create an engaging and effective wellbeing program that encourages lasting behavior change.
DIGITAL EDUCATION
An on-demand digital resource for learning, featuring proven theoretical health and wellbeing practices to complement professional routines.
PHYSICAL EXPERIENCE
Interactive learnings and immersive experiences at EQ to complement digital learning, provide you with the practical tools to succeed at work and carry through life.
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DISCLAIMER
This document has been provided for general information only and must not be relied upon in any way. The information issued by Equilibrium is not intended to be a substitute for obtaining professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are experiencing health concerns, you are encouraged to seek medical advice from an appropriately qualified medical practitioner. While Equilibrium makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of this document, Equilibrium does not guarantee its accuracy, completeness and does not accept responsibility or liability for any injury, loss or damage incurred by use of or reliance on its information. Before relying on this information, you should carefully evaluate it and where appropriate seek professional advice
equilibrium-wellbeing.com @eq_wellbeing
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