Online Resources

For additional information on specific mental conditions or services offered to different carer and consumer groups, please feel free to explore the links listed below.

NB: The information found through the following links are hosted outside the ARAFEMI website.

CARERS AND FAMILIES

ARAFMI Hobart

PO Box 717
Moonah Tas 7009
Phone: 03) 6228 7448
Email: south@arafmitas.org.au

http://www.arafmitas.org.au

ARAFMI New South Wales

Families and Friends Promoting Mental Health and Well Being

http://www.arafmi.org/

Mental Health Carers NT (formerly NT ARAFMI)

http://www.mentalhealthcarersnt.org/

ARAFMI Queensland Inc

http://www.arafmiqld.org

South Australia

For carer support in SA contact the Carers Association of South Australia

http://www.carers-sa.asn.au/mental_health.html

ARAFMI Mental Health Carers And Friends Association Inc: Western Australia
http://www.arafmi.asn.au

Carers Australia

http://www.carersaustralia.com.au

Providing Education Programs, Information and Support and Representing Carers through Policy Advocacy.

Carers Victoria
http://www.carersvic.org.au

The Victorian branch of Carers Australia providing Education Programs, Information and Support and Representing Carers through Policy Advocacy.

Help tips for families and carers

http://www.vtpu.org.au/tips/index.php

http://www.carersnetwork.org/ht.shtml

The Carers Network in conjunction with the Victorian Transcultural Psychiatry Unit has help tips for families and carers available in seven languages. The aim of these ‘help tips’ is to provide useful information on the symptoms and impact of mental illness and to support the carer role.

Mental Illness Fellowship
http://www.mifellowship.org

The Mental Illness Fellowship is Victoria's leading membership-based not-for-profit organisation working with people with mental illness, their families and friends to improve their well being.

The Bouverie Family Centre
http://www.latrobe.edu.au/bouverie/

A state-wide integrated clinical, academic and consultation agency specialising in family approaches in mental health service provision.

The Kit: A guide to the advocacy we choose to do.

http//:www.mhca.org.au/Resources/CommunityDevelopment/index.html#TheKit

A resource kit for consumers of Mental Health Services and their families and carers.

The Network for Carers of People with a Mental Illness

http://www.carersnetwork.org.au

The Network is the Victorian carer peak body of organisations and groups which support carers of people with a mental illness.

DEPRESSION

beyondblue
http://www.beyondblue.org.au
Provides reliable and up to date information on symptoms, causes, and treatment for depression. It gives examples of treatment and recovery experiences, feedback to professionals, links to other information services, and information about the work of beyondblue.

BluePages
http://bluepages.anu.edu.au
BluePages is produced by the Centre for Mental Health research at the Australian National University. The site contains information about symptoms of depression, and which medical, psychological and alternative treatments for depression work.

depressioNet
http://www.depressionet.com.au
depressioNet is an independent Australian site that provides information, help and support for people with depression, their family and friends. It has a messageboard and chatroom to communicate with others, and assistance to find professional help and support groups in your local area.

BIPOLAR AFFECTIVE DISORDER

Black Dog Institute

http://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au

An Australian based educational, research, clinical and community-oriented facility dedicated to improving understanding, diagnosis and treatment of mood disorders.

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
http://dbsalliance.org
This site has fact sheets and downloadable booklets for people with mood disorders and their families.

Dr Ivan Goldberg's Depression Central
http://www.psycom.net/depression.central.html
This site has links to a number of sites on bipolar disorder and depression.

Expert consensus guidelines for treatment
http://www.psychguides.com/
This site includes a handout for families and consumers on the treatment of bipolar disorder.

National Institute of Mental Health (USA)
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/
This site has up to date fact sheets and booklets on a wide range of mental health problems including a PDF booklet on bipolar disorder.

BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER

BPD Central
http://www.bpdcentral.com

National Education Alliance for Borderline Personality Disorder

http://www.neabpd.com

Spectrum

http://www.spectrumbpd.com.au

The personality disorder service for Victoria.

Treatment and Research Advancements Association for Personality Disorder
http://www.tara4bpd.org

PSYCHOSIS

Auseinet

http://www.auseinet.com

The Australian Network for Promotion, Prevention and Early Intervention for Mental Health

Early Psychosis Australia
http://www.earlypsychosis.org

EPPIC
http://www.eppic.org.au
EPPIC online has information about early psychosis and getting help. This site caters for mental health professionals, people who know someone who might be experiencing psychosis, people who are experiencing or recovering from psychosis and the general public.

Psychosis sucks

http://www.psychosissucks.ca/epi

A Canadian based Early Psychosis Intervention Program website. Contains useful information about psychosis, its treatment and recovery

SCHIZOPHRENIA

Internet mental health
http://www.mentalhealth.com/
This site is maintained by a Canadian psychiatrist and contains information about a range of mental illness including schizophrenia.

National Institute of Mental Health (USA)
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/
This site has up to date fact sheets and booklets on a wide range of mental health problems including schizophrenia.

Neuroscience Institute of Schizophrenia and Allied Disorders

http://www.nisad.org.au/

Neuroscience Institute of Schizophrenia and Allied Disorders NISAD is a non-profit, independent Australian medical research organisation undertaking world-class studies to understand the causes of schizophrenia.

Queensland Centre for Schizophrenia Research
http://www.qcsr.uq.edu.au
This site has information about recent research about schizophrenia, medications, and treatment.

schizophrenia.com

http://www.schizophrenia.com/

A non-profit community providing in-depth information, support and education related to schizophrenia. The site is managed by a group of independent volunteers and contractors around the world - most of whom are either family members or people who have schizophrenia.

The Experience of Schizophrenia

www.chovil.com/

Ian Chovil's personal experience of having a 25 year history of schizophrenia with his own information on the illness and its treatment.

World Fellowship for Schizophrenia and Allied Disorders
http://www.world-schizophrenia.org

ACCESSING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN VICTORIA

Victorian State Government Mental Health Services Web site
http://www.health.vic.gov.au/mentalhealth/
This site lists contact details for mental health services in Victoria by area. It a has an information booklet for families and carers of people with mental illness, and information available in a variety of languages for consumers and carers.

Better Health Channel
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/
This site has a directory to search for health services and practitioners, and information on a wide variety of health issues.

MENTAL HEALTH INFORMATION

Health Insite

http://www.healthinsite.gov.au

This site is funded by the Australian government Department of Health and Ageing to provide access to quality assessed information on a variety of health topics, including mental health.

Mental Health and Wellbeing-Commonwealth of Australia Department of Health and Ageing
http://www.mentalhealth.gov.au/
This site contains information about Commonwealth Government initiatives, and publications and information related to mental health.

Mental Health First Aid
http://www.mhfa.com.au
This Mental Health First Aid course was created at the Centre for Mental Health Research, Australian National University and includes first aid strategies for mental illness.

Multicultural mental health Australia
http://www.mmha.org.au/
This is a national program in mental health and suicide prevention for Australians from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Translated brochures for carers and consumers can be accessed through the library and information services section.

NAMI (USA)
http://www.nami.org
This site has fact sheets on a variety of mental illness and information for families of people with mental illness.

National Institute of Mental Health (USA)
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/
This site has up to date fact sheets and booklets on a wide range of mental health problems.

SANE Australia
http://www.sane.org
SANE is a national charity helping people affected by mental illness. The website provides information about mental illness (fact sheets and bookshop), a helpline, and a comprehensive list of links to Australian and international sites.

FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

itsallright

htpp://www.itsallright.org

This site is for young people who have a family member or friend with mental illness.

PATS - Paying Attention to Self

htpp://www.rch.org.au/pats/

Paying Attention to Self (PATS) Program is a peer support program for young people aged 13-18 yerars who have a parent who is affected by mental illness. For further information about what PATS has to offer phone Danielle Forer - Coordinator PATS program on (03) 9345 7950 or go to the website by clicking on the above link.

Make a noise
http://www.makeanoise.ysp.org.au/
This site includes fact sheets on mental health issues for young people.

Reach Out!
http://www.reachout.com.au
Reach Out! is an online service that inspires young people to help themselves get through tough times. It provides support and information, as well as a national database of services that can offer further assistance.

ybblue

http://www.ybblue.com.auybblue.com.au

This site is to encourage young people and their families and friends to talk about depression and to get help when it is needed.

Young Carers

http://www.youngcarers.net.au

A website for young carers that provides support, information and chillout activities.

CHILDREN OF PARENTS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS

VicChamps
http://www.easternhealth.org.au/champs

This Australian site is to help children and families better understand mental illness. It is designed so that children can have fun, have questions answered and find out useful information about mental illness.

Children of Parents with a Mental Illness: Worker Resource Centre

http://www.copmi.net.au

This site is a resource centre for information relating to families where a parent has

a mental illness. It has information for workers in specific fields and includes downloadable booklets and resources.

COMIC (Children of Mentally Ill Consumers)
http://www.howstat.com/comic/
COMIC is comprised of a group of adults who share a common interest for
children of parents with a mental illness. The site includes the 'Supporting our Family' kit.

Australian Infant, Child, Adolescent and Family Mental Health Association
http://www.aicafmha.net.au
AICAFMHA is an organization that promotes mental health for young Australians. Includes a list of resources related to children of parents with mental illness.

LEGAL INFORMATION

Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission

http://www.hreoc.gov.au/

Mental Health Act

http://www.dms.dpc.vic.gov.au/

Download the Mental Health Act 1986 in Word or PDF format.

The Mental Health Legal Centre

http://www.communitylaw.org.au/mentalhealth/

The Mental Health Legal Centre provides a free and confidential legal service to anyone who has experienced mental illness in Victoria where their legal problem relates to their mental illness.

Office of the Public Advocate
http://www.publicadvocate.vic.gov.au

Victoria Legal Aid
http://www.legalaid.vic.gov.au/