Are you looking for a doctor, therapist or support group?

[Chris_B]

Hi everyone,

We are unable to provide recommendations for specific practitioners here on the forums, but if you're looking for a practitioner in your area, please use our practitioner directory here.

Our practitioner directory is designed to help members find a medical or allied health professional in their local area who can help to diagnose, treat and manage depression and/or anxiety. The directory is not an endorsement of the health professionals listed or the services they provide. The health professionals who appear on the directory are those who have chosen to provide us with their details. We are not responsible for keeping the information up to date, although we make regular requests for listed health practitioners to do so.

Please feel free to share general advice on the forums about what to look for in a good mental health practitioner. 

The Black Dog Institute have a great section on their website about consulting various kinds of professionals, including GPs, psychiatrists, psychologists and counsellors. This resource explains the difference between practitioner types, what you can expect from an assessment and what to do if you're not feeling better after seeking treatment.

UPDATE 22/7: The website Patient Opinion Australia contains feedback on a range of health practitioners, which you may find useful in finding a good practitioner, or telling your story of a less-than-ideal experience.

UPDATE 6/2/17: For support group listings, please consult the Black Dog pages here. We are unable to provide recommendations for support groups here on the forums.

[DoulaToula]

My gp told me that he wants me to see a psychologist or psychiatrist and that I need long term assistance but there are no services for me because I am on a pension and broke. I can't afford gap payments and I probably need a couple of appointments a week for a couple of years perhaps more. I don't care anymore. It doesn't matter...invisible people with invisible problems.

[Waterfalls]

Hey Heather

I totally agree with 'interviewing' them, as opposed to just pouring your heart out and finding out later they are not a good match for you.

This is exactly what I'm going to do with any new doctor/psychiatrist. If they are too uncomfortable with meeting your questions about their method and approach, then quite frankly they do not meet the grade. There are many that are just too used to sitting there passively and given their position they need to earn their keep.

Like my long term psychiatrist i have fired. She talked herself out of a job. Our more accurately just says 'its up to you no pills will work' after an hour of listening to me then gets the machine out for 150 bucks out of pocket. Then has the audacity to book another appointment with me, no plan no nothing.

[Just Sara]

Hi everyone;

Due to increasing discussion about accessing psychological services for low income earners, I thought I'd give some ideas from my own experience.

The Rape Crisis Helpline in my state, NSW, (not sure if it's national) is a port of call I often use to combat related issues 24/7. After I called 6 times, I was given a case worker and different phone number to call. I leave my name and number and they get back to me asap. I did this at 2am and was called within 30 min's.

My details from those 6 calls are written about in notes by consultant clinical psychologists. They're specialists in the field and I can assure you they're absolutely wonderful and extremely professional.

I also called the Mental Health Crisis Hotline when things were dire. They were amazing. They gave me information on free services in my area, or as close as possible.

When I was hospitalised in February this yr, I was allocated an outpatient MH Case Worker on departure. He's lovely and very experienced. I had an issue he didn't know how to deal with, so he referred me to a 'free' psychiatrist on their books at the clinic. She was really helpful.

The clinic is privately run, but is under govt funding as an NGO. I'm sure there'd have to be other's around, but maybe people think they're like other centres and don't provide free services to clients.

The last thing I suggest is writing to your local member. I've done this on several occasions with positive results. The more people speak up, the more can be heard and hopefully changes will be imminent. Yes, it takes time, but we have a right to be proactive in how our country's run, by whom and where our tax $ are spent.

If they want our votes, they've got to do the work.
Sorry for ranting; it's also a sore point with me as with others.

Best of luck to us all...
Sara

[Nztruckr]

I have read posts on here with both pro and con recently i had abit of a episode which freaked out my flatmate and a few friends i also ended up disappearing for a few days eventually the police were called i had rung beyond blue the guy suggested i should see a psychologist after talking to my gp and hear in lies the problem i wasnt happy in myself thought i could talk to a psychologist but alsas not without a referral from a gp i have trouble opening up to people yet the mental health c system here wants me to tell lots of people how is we cant just see a mental health person directly without jumping through all these other hoops im not comfortable in telling one person whats wrong just for a referral only then to have to start again telling the next person the same thing from scratch time and time again

[ilias]

It is really frustrating trying to find a GP that has any even limited expertise in mental health - my brothers GP on the central coast has been appalling. Black dog site says find a practitioner but just has general GPs - this is not helpful at all - if anyone knows of a GP around erina that is at all helpful please can it be shared?

[Quercus]

Hi Ilias and welcome to the forums.

Your brother is fortunate to have you in his corner supporting him and doing the legwork finding professional help. I agree it is difficult to find good services.

These forums have rules in place around providing recommendations. However I can share this website as a good place to start searching...

www.yourhealthinmind.org/find-a-psychiatrist

Personally I prefer seeing a psychiatrist rather than a psychologist for therapy and a GP for medication. Psychiatrists are doctors with extra training in mental health. The website I gave has an option in advanced search to find bulk billing professionals. Hard to find but they do exist.

Other than this I have a few other suggestions...

1. Call the doctors clinic and ask the receptionist if there is a doctor who has a special interest in mental health. Many list doctor profiles and experise on their websites too.

2. Ask people you know. If you have a trusted group of friends or work colleagues chances are at least one will see a professional for mental health issues. Personal recommendations are absolute gold.

3. Check out the mental health peak body in your state. Here in WA we have WAAHM who you can call or visit to ask about available services and advice specific to your state.

I know this isn't exactly what you were asking for but I hope it helps. If your brother wants to supplement his offline therapy feel free to mention these forums too. We are always happy to talk and most of us here are people who live with mental illness so we do understand.

Nat

[Jazz_H]

Hi everyone,

I was wondering is there a way to see a doctor without first obtaining a Medicare card? I'm 17 years old and I am too scared to ask my parents to get my own out of fear they will question me.

Jazz

[Quercus]

Hi Jazz and a belated welcome to the forums.

I am sorry you had to wait so long. Sometimes posts slip through but that doesn't mean we don't care.

As a minor you do need adult support to seek medical help. If the doctor needs to give you a prescription or refer you or send you to hospital an adult is needed.

How do you feel about phoning the kids helpline and having a chat to someone? Their website has a lot of helpful info too. https://kidshelpline.com.au/teens.

May I ask... What makes you not able to speak about what you feel to your parents? If the topic is embarrassing thats ok your parents were young adults once too.

Or you could speak to the counsellor or a trusted teacher at your school. They may need to notify your parents if you are at risk though ok.

I hope you can return and talk to us.

Nat

[flameprincess]

Hello, I understand you can't recommend specific doctors but perhaps someone can guide me some other way. I need a doctor who knows about extended SSRI withdrawal syndrome. I have been managing this myself with my GP who has no experience of it but is lovely.. but its got to the point where I need to be very very careful with my tapering, my GP similarly has no experience with this. A 5% drop in my medication after 3 weeks can cause a migraine lasting days. But I need to do the tapering as I'm now on a SNRI and an SSRI at the same time.

My protracted withdrawal symptoms went for the three months June, July, August (dizziness, vertigo, cognitive fog on and off) until I reintroduced my medication at a very low dose. But now my CNS is very fragile I feel. I would just love to know there is a professional in Brisbane with experience in this area. If I can't get a recommendation - what do I search for?

[romantic_thi3f]

Hi flameprincess,

Welcome to the forums!

Thank you for your question although I'm not sure how helpful we can be. Unfortunately we're not able to give out specific recommendations here.

One thing I did think of is to potentially find a psychiatrist instead - SSRI withdrawal is a very specific enquiry which makes me think a psychiatrist will know much more, having done training in both mental health and medications!

You can find psychiatrists here https://www.yourhealthinmind.org/find-a-psychiatrist - or ask your GP for a local referral. On the website you can also specify 'bulk billing' and/or 'depression' (given the link with SSRI's).

Hope this helps,