Some things you need to consider when working with a mental health service:

• Not all people with a mental illness choose to be seen by a mental health service. Some people choose to be treated by private mental health specialists or by their GP, whilst others decide not to seek treatment.
• Be mindful that the staff at the mental health service will do their very best to help you and the person for whom you are caring, however nothing can ever replace the support they are given by family and friends.
• There are other support options outside the mental health service. For further information visit the 'Support for carer's' page on this website.

Sometimes the diagnosis of a mental illness can highlight relationship difficulties, difficult dynamics or unhealthy lifestyle choices within the family. This can be an extremely stressful time and you may find it necessary to seek additional help from outside the service to address these issues. Whilst a mental health service is not able to provide these services, we are able to recommend other services for you to contact.

Mental health service staff need to access information from a variety of stakeholders including the family, police, other staff who may have seen the person recently in order to make an accurate and appropriate assessment. Some things you can do to assist are:

• Keep a diary including symptoms, patterns of behaviours.
• Request information from other community supports that you are already in contact with.
  
  
  

Find a service

Visit the Mental Health website to view a directory of Queensland Health Mental Health Services

Last Updated: 30 September 2008
Last Reviewed: 30 March 2009