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Seeking Support

Mental health support

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Well this week has been a waste. I visited my GP on Monday and together we made a mental health care plan. She referred me to a psychiatrist but when the company contacted me they would only offer me an appointment with a psychologist. I decide to accept it as I need help.

 

My aunty agreed to look after Billie for the afternoon. The place I needed to go to is across the city so I have to catch two buses. After a horrible bus trip where I was abused by some old man, I waited for 30 minutes I finally met with the psychologist. He was so rude and told me he cant help and that I should be “making better life choices”.

 

I feel I have wasted my time and money on bus fare only to leave that place more unwell than when I went in. I felt completely invisible and unheard.

psychologist

Families talked about feeling ‘othered’ and often excluded from mainstream society. They also talked about their awareness of public and political narratives and how they hurt.


Responsible and sensitive messaging is critical to counter current stigmatising rhetoric and public discourse.

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Jo’s journey

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Calls to Action

Families repeatedly asked us before, during and after their engagement; ‘how will my information be used to make a difference? It is through this lens and in the context of your own influence and responsibility that these calls to action should be viewed.

Support people to identify and achieve their life goals – their way

Families are intimately familiar with their own circumstances and needs and hold valuable perspectives about what approaches would work for themselves and their communities.

Elevate the role and amplify the voice of people experiencing disadvantage

Families consistently reported that they often don’t feel seen or heard in policy or practice settings and would like to add their voices and lived experience in designing, implementing and evaluating policies, programs and social change that impacts them.

Ensure every Australian has access to adequate income to meet their basic needs

The 100 Families WA evidence demonstrates the positive benefits that the Coronavirus Supplement had on family members, which ultimately supported them to live with a greater dignity.

Build and strengthen local community networks and supports

Families draw on their relationships with family, friends, neighbours and community networks when available, for both practical assistance and emotional support to meet a variety of needs.

Challenge stigma and create a safe, supportive environment for people

Family members continue to experience stigma and discrimination at individual, community, service and societal levels. Safe, supportive environments can help reduce people’s experiences of stigma and discrimination.

Make it easy as possible for people to access support when they need it

Family members reported a range of personal, organisational and systemic barriers to accessing formal and informal supports. Reducing these barriers can reduce the financial, emotional and time costs for families who are currently navigating multiple formal supports.

Prioritise and develop trusted and enduring relationships

Families’ positive experiences of seeking support depends on being genuinely listened to and supported with care and understanding of their individual circumstances.

Invest in prevention and early supports

Policies, services and community-based programs focused on prevention and early support, in addition to crisis services, can help support people to solve issues before problems escalate.

Recognise the value of caring roles and other contributions to society

Recognising, valuing and supporting the multiple ways that family members contribute to their families and society can create social and economic benefits and reduce inequality

Reflection

Informed by what you have learned, please answer the below question. Your comments are made anonymously and will not be attributed back to you.

Learning

Interested in continueing your 100 Families journey? Stay connected to 100 Families WA by adding your details below (only quarterly contact will be made via newsletters and project opportunities).

Click on the links below to download key resources to help you on your learning journey.

Download the Full report
Download the Summary Report
Download the Lived Experience Framework
To access further 100 Families WA resources, click here
To access other helpful resources, like the WACOSS Advocacy Toolkit, Outcomes Framework and more, click here
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contact us on 100familieswa@wacoss.org.au

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Background

Jo is a 26 year old single mom of a daughter and preganant of another child. She is struggling with her abusive partner, lack of housing and diffficults to find a job.
Vision/goals

What I want more than anything is to have a stable place to call home, where we feel safe a better job that has decent pay and most of all, I want my children to feel loved and be happy.

Background

Jo is a 26 year old single mom of a daughter and preganant of another child. She is struggling with her abusive partner, lack of housing and diffficults to find a job.

Vision/goals

What I want more than anything is to have a stable place to call home, where we feel safe a better job that has decent pay and most of all, I want my children to feel loved and be happy.