Are you looking after a person with mental illness? Find support and services to help you

4 minute read
 
Add to read later View my read later list

Many people look after someone with a mental illness – 1 in 5 Australians will experience mental illness at some time in their life. Their relatives and friends will often be the ones providing care, which might be for a short time or over the long term.

It can be particularly stressful to support a loved one who has a condition that affects their mood, thinking and behaviour. If you are looking after someone with a mental illness, you need help and support too.

Getting help for yourself

If you are stressed and need someone to talk to, call:

  • Mental Health Carer Helpline on 1300 554 660
  • Lifeline on 13 11 14

Lifeline has a tool kit for carers of people with a mental illness, which provides information about:

  • the impact of being a carer
  • strategies for supporting and sustaining yourself as a carer
  • positive ways to help and support a person living with a mental illness
  • carer’s rights and entitlements
  • where to go for help

You can also talk with other carers on the:

Online help and information

If you would like to know more about mental illness and caring for someone with a mental illness, many organisations have websites that can help:

Help in each state and territory

Each state and territory has organisations that provide support and services for people with mental illness and their carers. The key organisations are:

Help in an emergency

If the person you care for has a mental health crisis, call your state or territory crisis assessment and treatment team for immediate help. These are:

  • Australian Capital Territory – Mental Health Triage Service 1800 629 354
  • New South Wales – Mental Health Line 1800 011 511
  • Northern Territory – Crisis Assessment Telephone Triage Service 1800 682 288
  • Queensland – 24-hour mental health care 1300 642 255
  • South Australia – Mental Health Triage Service 13 14 65
  • Tasmania – Mental Health Services Helpline 1800 332 388
  • Victoria – Mental Health Services (visit the website to choose the service for your region)
  • Western Australia – Mental Health Emergency Response Line 1800 676 822

Helpful links

Take a look at the Lifeline tool kit for carers of people with a mental illness

Find out more about different mental conditions and treatment from Sane Australia

Website feedback

If you have feedback on the site, we'd love to hear from you.

Provide feedback