Jesuit Social Services has launched a new mental health and wellbeing facility in Sunshine, offering support for carers of people with mental ill health or substance abuse issues.
Aimed at addressing the important role played by family, carers, kin and supporters in contributing to the wellbeing of people who are experiencing mental health challenges, psychological distress, mental illness, or substance use issues, the program offers a range of support options including information, resources, counselling, individual support, and group programs.
Program manager Nick Pace said the new program is run exclusively by people with their own lived experiences as carers, allowing them to provide meaningful and relevant support.
“A lot of care and support offered in the community already is largely targeted towards people who care for those with physical or intellectual disabilities, and nothing up until now that is tailored and nuanced to the experience of caring for someone with mental health or substance abuse issues,” he said.
“The initiative began in May 2023, but now we have formally opened the Western Metro Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect program at the Sunshine site.
“Our group of support workers can help families and carers with real practical tasked based support needs.
“That might mean helping them with referrals or applications for Centrelink or NDIS funding, or access to brokerage for financial or material aids, housing options … these are all things we can walk alongside people with to explore for themselves.
“As carers, we often dedicate all of our time, energy, and resources into supporting the other person, and we put ourselves last … this is about shifting the lens back onto themselves, which can be really difficult for most participants because they’re not used to it.”
The program is available to anybody in the western metropolitan area, without a referral or booking, and outreach services are available for participants who live further away from Sunshine.
The group encourages people to take the help that is available, and either call, email, or just walk into the new permanent centre in Sunshine to start receiving support.
Gerald Lynch
