We are support workers employed through IMPACT Make Your Mark to primarily focus on supporting the carers, family and friends of those who have a diagnosis of mental illness.

We do this through mentoring, education, counseling and referral to other community agencies.

The service aims to assist the community to update our carers through education and guest speakers and to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness by holding Cuppa Club, Chillin’ and Drug and Alcohol Action Week and a Mental Health Carer Support Service Forum throughout the year.

Mentoring and counseling services through one on one and group support, face to face or telephone contact for individuals or families living with mental illness. Extended family members like grandparents, brothers and sisters, aunties,uncles and cousins encouraged to make contact. Concerned friends and carers are also welcome to contact us. We support all ages from young children to senior citizens. Advocacy and assistance in referral to other agencies.  Opportunity to talk through problems and identify coping strategies.

Upon meeting with you we can identify your needs and assist in supporting you through referrals to local support groups & social services, Consumer services, accommodation, Centrelink, correctional services &  Employment & Training .  We also assist by enabling you to network with other people going through similar situations to you by our various support services eg. Cuppa Club and Chillin see these listed below for further details.

Chillin’ is for 13-18 year olds living in a home with mental illness.  Indigenous & Non-Indigenous groups welcome for fortnightly social gatherings eg. Pizza, Maccas, swimming, footy and bbq’s.  This group is very laid back and informal and provides education through a social setting.  There is no judgment here, everyone is equal and all attending should be ready for fun and relaxation.  Firstgroup planned for Tuesday 29th July 2008 from 3.30pm to 5pm.  Give us a call or text if you are able to attend or if you need a lift we can arrange to pick you up and take you home.

Cuppa Club is an opportunity for carers, family members or friends living with someone with mental illness to meet other people in the same situation and have a cuppa and a chat and not feel isolated and alone but feel secure in the knowledge that others are going through similar situations and that friendship and assistance is available to them in a non-judgmental atmosphere.

We will be providing education and opportunities for people to meet local community agencies for education and support.

Give us a call or text if you are able to attend or if you need a lift we can arrange to pick you up and take you home.

Children from small children to 12 years are to be catered for by this service.  More information to follow about group services so watch this space.

Currently we provide on on one support to children through activities to raise self esteem and identify situations happening in their home.  We also workthrough anxiety, depression,  feelings of insecurity to sibling rivalry.

Workshops:  To date we have held workshops on Drug and Medication Awareness.  We have been present at the Carers Expo and Naidoc Week.

We are running an open forum on 6 August 2008 from 10 am—12pm which is giving community support services an opportunity to meet with carers to discuss their service and enable people to see what our community has to office.

We will be providing monthly education opportunities through the Wide Bay Integrated Mental Health Service—dates to be finalised.

Watch this space to be advised of events as more come to hand.