Mental Health Services in the ACT - The Mental Health Foundation ACT provides a range of services including information and referral. Part of the role of information and referral is to provide an up-to-date Directory of Mental Health Services in the ACT. The directory not only has a full listing of Mental Health Services but a range of others that they believe may be important in maintaining an individual's well-being.

Directory of Mental Health Services PDF Version

Mental Health Support Groups In The ACT
When a family member develops a mental illness, many people do not know where to turn for information either about the illness itself, like schizophrenia, or support services. While many of our members are aware of support services available in the ACT, others may not be. Here are a few details of some of them.

Mental Health Foundation ACT
The Mental Health Foundation ACT operates a mental health information and referral service from its office at 6/42 Townshend Street, Phillip. The foundation's activities also include a Skills for Life program which provides strategies and tools to minimise distressing symptoms and improve the quality of life for people who experience a range of mental health issues. It also provides residential respite and structured activities, a residential long-stay program, outreach and respite care, and a psychosocial rehabilitation program for people to meet and enjoy social activities and learn vocational and life skills. Visit the office between 10:00am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday. Phone (02) 6282 6658 or visit www.mhf.org.au for more information.

Schizophrenia and Bi-Polar Peer Support Service (PSS)
PSS is a volunteer based program offered to people with a mental illness by experienced, mature, insightful people with the same mental illness. The aim is to allow people with common experiences to discuss common circumstances, give advice and guidance, and share information on services, in a friendly, unpressured atmosphere. The PSS volunteers have an interest in helping other people with a mental illness to cope better with their life, because they have also been in a similar situation, of feeling overwhelmed by their circumstances. The PSS volunteers are available to meet with you, a few times, over a coffee at a time and place convenient to you and them. You decide what you’d like to discuss. There is no counselling or case management involved, and the discussion is intended to help you organise your thoughts on issues. The PSS volunteers may follow up with a phone call to check you are okay, but often people will call the PSS when they are feeling a bit low. The service is non-committal and very informal. The PSS volunteers have responsibilities to clients such as duty of care and privacy and ask that clients agree to the same responsibilities. If you are interested (or would like to be a volunteer) contact the Mental Health Foundation ACT on (02) 6282 6658 or visit www.mhf.org.au for more information.

Serenity
Serenity has been functioning for many years to help carers cope with the day-to-day difficulties of living with a family member with a mental illness or who have a friend who is ill. Serenity meet on Monday evenings from 7:30pm to 9.00pm at 6/42 Townshend Street, Phillip. Contact the Mental Health Foundation ACT on (02) 6282 6658 or visit www.mhf.org.au for more information.

The Rainbow
The Rainbow is a service provided by the Mental Health Foundation ACT and is a place for all mental health consumers to go and meet new people, learn new skills (computer, internet, art and craft, gardening and writing) or simply relax in a safe, friendly and respectful environment. There's a pool table as well as board games, table tennis, relaxation classes, regular excursions and trips, cooking etc. It's free and very popular, well serviced by buses (Numbers 36 and 39 from Civic Interchange and Number 48 from Belconnen Interchange). The Rainbow is located at H Block, Canberra Technology Park, Phillip Avenue, Watson or phone (02) 6242 6575 for more information. Open from 9:00am to 5:00pm Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

The Richmond Fellowship
The Richmond Fellowship provides a range of transitional or permanent accommodation and support options to people with a mental illness who wish to live in the community. Services provided in group homes are delivered in the least restrictive manner and are based on psychosocial principles. Support is also available to people who live in their own accommodation but need some assistance to maintain their place in the community. Richmond Fellowship staff can provide regular contact through visits in the client's home, giving assistance in all areas of daily living. For more information, phone (02) 6249 7912 or visit www.rfact.org.au.

Carers ACT
Carers ACT provide information, counselling, education and support for people who have taken on caring responsibilities. The role of Carers ACT is to participate in a partnership with Government and the Non-Government sector for the provision of better services, to improve the conditions under which Carers work and to increase recognition of Carers' contribution to the ACT community. For more information, phone (02) 6296 9900.

Connections Volunteers
Connections Volunteers links people living with a mental illness with volunteers who provide companionship and support. Connections Volunteers is a highly successful friendship program which strengthens the capacity of people living with mental illness to function within the community and strengthens the skills and capacities of volunteers to effectively relate to and support people with chronic mental health conditions. If you are interested (or would like to be a volunteer) contact (02) 6251 4060, email connections@volunteeract.com.au, or visit www.volunteeract.com.au for more information.

ACT Mental Health Consumer Network
ACTMHCN aims to accurately represent the interests of all mental health consumers to service providers, the community and government, on all levels. Members feel they are able to have a genuine say in all areas of mental health service delivery, including the development of policy, and to play a respected and effective role in a real partnership with providers. For more information, phone (02) 6230 5796 or visit the Network office at the Griffin Centre, 1 Genge Street, Canberra City, from 10:30am to 2:30pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays for a tea or coffee, meet peer support workers and get some literature.

Family Drug Support Hotline
The Family Drug Support Hotline operates 24 hours, seven days a week for the cost of a local call on 1300 368 186. Families become exhausted and feel isolated when left alone to work through issues around drug and alcohol use. The Hotline can help families hang in there and not give up.

SAILs
SAILs aims to link varying levels of support for people with a mental illness to their individual situations, with the goal of supporting that person to remain in the community. SAILs helps with finding accommodation, assisting with transport, discovering recreational and leisure activities, help with keeping appointments, and with budgeting, meal preparation, shopping and personal hygiene, and much more. For more information, phone (02) 6257 5923 or write to The SAILs Program, Centacare, PO Box 75, Civic Square ACT 2608.

GROW
GROW is a 12 step program of mutual help, recovery or personal growth which GROW has successfully developed over 50 years. GROW has been helpful to many people over the years, including those who are in the recovery stage of a mental illness and feel they need group support to maintain their independence. GROW is voluntary, anonymous, confidential and non-denominational and encourages the development of what it calls "our great strengths and habits" - understanding, acceptance, confidence, control and love. For more information, phone (02) 6295 7791 or visit The GROW House at 9 Anembo Street, Narrabundah, or email grow@iimetro.com.au.

Inana Inc.
Inana Inc.is a community-based feminist service for women who are in distress, and their children. While Inana aims to help women to live free from any form of violence, it also provides outreach support for women who are experiencing or recovering from a mental health crisis. Inana also has a Crisis Accommodation Service which provides supported accommodation for up to six months for women, with or without children, who are homeless, in emotional distress, in need of a safe place, have mental health issues or want parenting support. For more information, phone (02) 6295 3323.

The Canberra After Suicide Support Group (CASS)
CASS is a mutual self-help group that provides a safe place for parents, spouses, siblings, children, relatives, lovers, partners, companions and friends of those who have died by suicide to come together for acceptance, understanding, support, sharing, talking, listening, respect and information. CASS meets at 2.00pm on the second and fourth Sunday of each month. Drop in briefly for information or stay for coffee and talk with other survivors of loved ones’ suicides. For meeting location or more information, phone (02) 6292 6847.

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