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.

[Guest_083]

I personally think it is absolutely disgusting that you won't allow for recommendations - many people like myself are suffering, yet falling prey to charlatans who claim to be mental health experts.

We need to be looking out for each other.

If you won't allow it, I strongly recommend that you stop taking on funding and divert it to an organisation that will support people suffering from mental health challenges.

[Quercus]

Hi AlexX1 and welcome,

I'm glad you decided to write. It is important for managers of BB and these forums to receive feedback, good and areas that need improvement.

As someone who (like yourself) manages a mental illness and has been in the position of not being able to find medical support I can understand your frustration.

And yet as someone who has volunteered on the forums for over a year now I see why the restrictions are unfortunately necessary.

It would be irresponsible for BB to permit recommendations in an anonymous forum.

Yes we do need to look after eachother, but there will always be people who will abuse the system. Especially if they are anonymous.

As you mentioned, we can be vulnerable when very unwell. I know as a volunteer that the forum managers place massive importance on safety. They have to otherwise noone would feel safe here. A bad recommendation could have devastating consequences.

Anonymity is important on these forums because it gives people a safe place to try out talking. But these forums should never be a replacement for medical care in your community.

The appropriate place to ask for recommendations is offline where people are identifiable and accountabile for their recommendations. Ask friends, family, colleagues that you know and trust. Ask your doctor or community health organisations who they recommend. Asking someone who knows YOU often means they recommend a professional whose style may suit you better.

I acknowledge that you are upset and angry and you have every right to be as it sounds like you're struggling to find support. Have you considered creating a thread for your own story so we can try support you too?

Kindest,

Nat

[Guest_066]

And no, I do not have "family and friends" that can support me and guide me in the right direction.

That smug "family and friends" line basically spits in the fact of people suffering, needing support desperately and guidance to avoid the quacks & money grabbers.

[Guest_8790]

Hi AlexX2

My name is Rusty and have mental health issues too. I am not a volunteer here but someone who needed help. I dont presume to know your story but am a good listener and have heaps of empathy and if you ever want to sound off feel free to chat to me. I wad thinking of advocacy services who help find services you require and can find the trust you so need. They do the work for you and come with you as support. They would require you to sign a privacy and confidentiality form so you are fully informed of your rights and that they have your permission to give your details to other services. You may.not agree to what i say and fully respect that. The reason i know this is because just completed cert iv in mental health so can learn more.about my health but.also try to support others as i am a genuine person who just wants to help in any small way.

Kindest regards

Rusty

[Pedro75]

Hi all,

Pete here. Living with anxiety and depression. Had some really sharp postnatal panic and depression post the birth of my first son. I'm a BB speaker and have had my story published in print and online in an effort to help other Dads who may of experienced postnatal mental illness.

Sorry for the long intro but I wanted to be sure that everybody feels I am legit.

Anyway, re therapy. It took me quite some time to find and develop a good relationship with my therapist. Has anyone else found that process to be harder than it should be? I am aware and respect the rules of this forum in "no recommendations' but I wanted to see if anyone else out there thinks that finding the right therapy/therapist can sometimes cost too much time and money? I'm not disputing what therapy costs, just the cost of sitting through sessions before finding the right fit?

Cheers.

[Guest_4643]

Hi all.

What about having a GP who doesn't care, doesn't help & doesn't do her job, like what I have? Not that easy to find a new GP where I live.

& no groups to meet people for me, everything I've found I've been told is for people in their 40s, & I'm only 20. I have no idea why.

Only thing around about 30 mins away is Headspace, went there & the manager & group members made fun of my mental illnesses, so that was traumatic, still is, never been back & never would. eHeadspace has also been bad.

So yeah, nothing here for me. In Regional VIC.

Tayla

[blondguy]

Hi Pete...(and a wave to Tayla too!)

Welcome to the forums and good on you for having the courage to post too!

It is hard work to find a therapist (or a GP) that we click with...Its a part of the rocky road to having some peace of mind..unfortunately. I understand where you are coming from

I used to have chronic anxiety attacks when I was 23 in 1983 for about 13 years....I was ignorant (or in denial) by not telling my counsellor (or my GP) the truth about how I was at the time. This is my 37th year with having the leftovers of various levels of anxiety disorder.

Just my humble opinion Pete...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

I tried a few GP's and found one that has a strong mental health focus....I have been seeing my doc every 4-8 weeks for 23 years now.

Great thread by the way Pete!....I hope you can post it on either the anxiety or depression thread headers as you will have a ton of replies instead of this thread that only provides support for finding a health professional 🙂

my kind thoughts

Paul

[Pedro75]

Hey Paul,

Thanks for your reply. I too have a great GP who knows me well, which I guess is one way to streamline the process - ie. knowing me and the therapist would give her some insight as to how I could or could not 'click' with the therapist.

Would you mind elaborating on your 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 please?

I don't mind spending time with the therapist, finding out what therapy I might need, as I agree, our symptoms are so personal - I don't know what I need as I'm not trained. But I guess the point I'm making is, that I probably would stick with a particular therapist if I knew we had similar interests, backgrounds - kind of like stuff I look for that I have in common with friends.

I absolutely respect the professional standards that are required that ensures that the lines don't get blurred between client and clinician. Probably not possible, but even a get to know you session that was subsidised in someway? Sorry to ask so many questions - I just know how good my current therapist has been for me and I wish everyone could have the same experience.

Thanks Paul.

[smallwolf]

Quick reply... and this is my interpretation...

• my GP will refer to a specialist when a problem is outside her skill set. I was referred to psychiatrist and psychologist as needed.
• I like the honesty (and concern for me) present in my GP, psychologist and psychiatrist.
• while my psychiatrist might have a similar sense of humor, I feel her views in some area differ to mine, but that does not change her approach in talking to me.
• having similar areas of knowledge only means there are some things I would not have to explain so I get a better bang fro my dollar time wise.
• they also listen to what I have to say

[Guest_4643]

Hi all, just found this thread again. Interesting post actually.

I was wondering, because my GP is terrible and making things worse for me, I need some advice please.

• How do you ask for a new GP at a new Clinic - do you just say "I need a GP that specialises in mental health please" & if you prefer Male or Female? (Doesn't really bother me).
• How do you tell them why you changed, what you're there for/your history, stuff like that, or does it just get transferred (with your consent of course) somehow?

When I moved up to where I live now about 2 years ago, my Mum filled out the new patient form for me so I don't know how it all worked. Any advice would be appreciated. I've been looking for new GPs but I'm also scared. I'm not sure if I should keep seeing mine or just cancel the appointments & not go at all.

& what if I need prescriptions - get my Psychiatrist to write & send them in the mail (I see him on Skype) because he did that once & it arrived in 3 days during the week? (He was happy to do that, plus the whole Doctors Clinic was closed because this was before Christmas). Or do I just say I need a prescription & go pick it up at the Clinic without seeing a GP since most people do that these days?

Thanks.

Tayla