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.

[blondguy]

Hi Pedro

Its always good to have questions on the forums..as then we can provide better support to others!

You asked about my comment "Because our mental health symptoms vary so much from person to person it would be very difficult (and time consuming) for a therapist to ascertain what you are actually going through and then provide you with the necessary treatment you require"

Thanks for asking Pedro..Some people cant afford to see a psychologist or wait for a psychiatrists appointment so....most GP's have do have an excellent focus about mental health and can be a huge help where our recovery is concerned...The cost is much lower and we have quicker access to appointments to discuss the emotional pain we are going through

As long as we are honest with our GP about our feelings/symptoms we have so much to gain by placing our trust with a GP that has a mental health focus...Of course with severe or complex mental health conditions we do require the assistance of a psychiatrist/psychologist....Our GP's can provide us with some peace on a more regular basis

Hey Tayla....you are spot on! Just ask the receptionist that you want to see a GP that has experience with mental health. When you see another GP....all of your medical history is transferred over to your new doc without you doing anything at all...nice profile pic by the way!

my kindest

Paul

[Guest_4643]

Thanks Paul, I'll try that because I've been looking for a new GP since mine is unfortunately treating me terribly and not doing her job, I don't know why.

I've been looking up a clinic 30 mins away from me because there's nowhere else around that takes new patients. I've been reading all of the reviews and the doctors qualifications and a few of them specialise in mental health, plus it's a bigger clinic with more doctors so that helps. plus all the reviews are good. even the receptionists are rude and unhelpful at my current GP clinic.

and thanks, i found my profile picture on Google just searching Floral Pictures, so many nice ones. I wanted to change it, i like yours too.

thanks,

Tayla

[romantic_thi3f]

Hi Tayla,

Hope you are doing okay- great to see that you're still posting!

• Yes, you can absolutely say you want a GP who specialises in mental health (or who has an interest in) as well as if you prefer male/female
• If you are seeing a new doctor at the same clinic, all of your notes will likely be on the system, but if you are seeing a new doctor at a new clinic, you can absolutely get them to request your files from your old doctor. Usually they just give you a form that you sign and their receptionists can organise it.
• If it is a new clinic, they will start a new record for you, so probably get you to fill in a form or answer some questions. The forms are pretty basic though - just address/phone/medicare card etc
• The prescriptions is really going to be up to your psychiatrist and what he's comfortable with, as well as your new GP. There's no hard and fast rule with this one

rt

[romantic_thi3f]

Hi,

Sorry I didn't click on Page 2 where Paul had already answered your questions! Sorry Paul!

rt

[Guest_4643]

Hey romantic_thi3f.

Thanks for replying.

My Psychiatrist did prescriptions for me for my old meds (I've only been taking the new ones since about the 1st or 2nd of Feb). It arrived in the mail in 3 days which is fine. But that was also because the whole Clinic was closed before Christmas so I didn't really have a choice. He wrote them the same day after my session.

Either way he always says he's happy to do stuff for me & is informative. I just hope he wants to see me again, sigh.

Tayla

[romantic_thi3f]

Hi Tayla,

Oh thats great news.

Other than what your other GP said about your psychiatrist, is there any other reason that makes you think he doesn't want to see you again?

rt

[Guest_4643]

Hi again romantic_thi3f (or RT).

Well he's always been nice to me and he's never said that he doesn't want to see me, but I'm just really anxious about it. I can't stop myself from overthinking it.

I guess when he referred me to the local triage (that my parents, my GP and myself agreed that I won't go to at all) from my last appointment, that made me feel that way a bit. But perhaps he was just trying to get me help locally aswell as himself because it's so hard where I live.

I hope he wants to see me again. I've never been rude to him and he's never been rude to me but still. My GP is just making stuff bad, I hope he understands and doesn't think I'm causing drama or anything.

Tayla

[romantic_thi3f]

Hi Tayla,

Yep, it absolutely sounds like you're overthinking it a bit!

I think it would be natural for any psychologist or psychiatrist or specialist to try and link you up with local services. If your psychiatrist is used to using Skype, then he probably does it with everyone. I think it's just his way of trying to make sure you have the best support available to you.

I'm not sure when your next appointment is but I hope he gives you some reassurance! It's also okay (and totally human) to ask for reassurance too.

rt

[Guest_4643]

Hi romantic_thi3f (RT), sorry for my slow responses.

Yeah I guess so, but I'd rather just see my Psychiatrist. I see him again on the 18th, I hope everything goes well. Yeah I'm not sure if he sees patients in person aswell as Skype, who knows. Either way Skype is fine, it's sort of the same thing.

I always overthink, I can't help it. I hope I can get reassurance from him.

Thanks again, hugs.

Tayla

[bipolar_1234]

Whilst I fully understand not being able to recommend anyone, I would simply like to be able to find SOMEONE who can see me in less than 10 weeks.

My problems start with my GP. Even when urgent it is normally 2 weeks before I can see him. I can see someone else in the practice in a day, but they are useless. probably why there is such a long wait for my GP.

Then I get a referral to a psychiatrist. His office lost the fax they confirmed they had. it took 10 days to get them to admit this and get another copy sent. I've now been waiting 3 days to hear if he will even see me. I've already been told the first possible appointment will at least 8 weeks after that and possibly much longer.

I'm in a manic state right now that my medication is not getting on top of and the feeling is similar to the build up to my first hospitalisation. I'm sure that if I can get help now I can avoid hospital.

Until the last few weeks I have been stable for 7 years without daily medication - there is one I use when I start being manic that, until now, has resolved the episode overnight. I have used several close friends as an early warning system. They can spot the changes in me long before either my wife or I can. Sadly, they have only ever managed this face to face and this is now blocked due to COVID-19 restrictions. This removal of my critical support is now exacerbating my problems, hence my feeling that things are going to spiral out of control