Accessing Help for Mental Health Concerns
It is important to know how to get help if you or the person you care for is experiencing concerns around their mental health.
The First Step
The first step in accessing appropriate supports is recognising that you, or a family member may be experiencing a mental health condition.
We also understand that it might be difficult to find the right information about mental health. Here are some resources that may help.
National Autistic Society
National Autistic Society: Mental Health
Here you can read about a range of mental health conditions such as Anxiety, Depression, Eating Disorders, and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Each topic offers guidance for individuals with Autism, parents or carers, as well as professionals.
Royal College of Psychiatrists: Leaflets
Royal College of Psychiatrists have developed leaflets that explain the following mental health conditions:
Easy Health
Easy Health contains a database of helpful information, videos, and resources to help understand various mental health conditions and medical procedures.
Speak up
If you are feeling sad, anxious or irritable and upset a lot of the time, you may want to tell a trusted person in your life like a family member, friend or carer, so that they can help support you. There may be practical solutions to problems that they can help with, or they can support you to find professional help if needed.
Prior to starting with a new health professional, you might like to ask if they have experience working with Autistic people. Some private Psychiatrists and Psychologists have a particular interest in this area. You can search for professionals with this interest here.
Accessing Mental Health Supports
The Autism Association of WA has prepared a resource that helps Autistic people access the right support for their mental health. This document contains information related to private, government, and disability supports.
Click here to download.
The Mental Health Commission of WA
The Mental Health Commission of WA website describes the different types of mental health services that are available, and ways to get help in WA.
