For Parents & Carers
Welcome to this space! Watching your young person struggle with mental illness is not an easy road and it’s a heavy and tiring journey to be on, as it is for your child. We hope that by providing links to meaningful and helpful resources we can ease some of the load. When we were on this journey with our daughter Amby, we didn’t have any idea what was out there or have the capacity to look further than the care she was already under. We also didn’t have anyone suggest any alternative options, so we are wanting to help you help your young person. Please remember to let your young person know that you SEE THEM. I read in Amberly’s journals that she felt like it was her illnesses that were seen and not her, so please don’t let your child also feel like they are a problem to fix, they are a person wanting to be helped.
Below are some helpful links and phone numbers as well as some self-care tips for yourself. It is important to continue looking after yourself so that you can better show up for your child.
Supporting your child
Links to sites with very helpful information and some offer chat services.
Please also have a look at the resource links provided for Youth as this is a good insight into what help your young person can access. There are also inpatient services that you may wish
to navigate.
Inpatient Services
Step-Up Step-Down – Neami National
https://www.mhc.wa.gov.au/getting-help/other-support-services/residential-services-for-mental-health#StepUpStepDownServices
Location | Service Provider | Number of Beds | Date Opened | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Albany | Neami National | 6 | November 2018 | 08 6323 8900 |
Bunbury | Richmind WA | 10 | March 2020 | 1800 742 466 |
Geraldton | Neami National | 10 | January 2021 | 08 6323 8980 |
Joondalup | Neami National | 22 | May 2013 | 08 6200 9165 |
Kalgoorlie | Neami National | 10 | January 2021 | 08 6323 8987 |
Rockingham | Mind Australia | 10 | October 2016 | 1300 286 463 |
Self-Care Tips
It is so important to put your own oxygen mask on first so that you are better prepared to help your young person. It is understandable that we don’t always have enough time to do these things for ourselves, so even if it is 5mins with a hot drink, a deep breathing exercise or a long shower at the end of the day, it all makes a difference.
Remember
Remember to do things you enjoy… a hobby, a coffee with a friend or a quiet walk by the ocean. It is hard to put time aside when you are focused on your child and other family members too, but asking your partner or another responsible adult to step in so you can just take a moment for yourself isn’t being Selfish it is Self-Care and we all need this to be able to continue to show up and fight for our Young person, who when struggling, finds it hard to just keep going.
