Can anyone tell me where the Support Groups meet or how I get in contact with them?
Thank you
Support Groups
November 15, 2010
November 19, 2010
#2
The Mental Health Carers ARAFMI Information and Support Line has a comprehensive list of all mental health support groups operating across the state of New South Wales - give us a call on 1800 655 198 or 02 9332 0700 and we can link you with the most relevant one for your needs closest to you.
November 19, 2010
#3
I want to make contact with anyone who has had, or is having, a familty member or friend who is going through Borderline Personality Disorder. My situatuion is at the (near) end of years of living with a family member with BPD and now it seems surresl at times, to get ME living MY life. I have a great book on BPD but it is much better to have person to person contact for discussions. I live in Carlingford and can travel. It's having contact with spmeone who knows about this that is helpful. Regards from Ron.
March 11, 2011
#4
I have just been recently diagnosed with bpd maybe I could give you some insight into what your family member is going through? Contact can be made through the ARAFMI NSW Office.
March 11, 2011
#5
Joanne, thanks for your email and your very generous offer to provide an insight into your recent diagnosis. For safety and privacy reasons we do not allow personal contact details to be placed on the forum. We have noted your contact details and should the person wish to get in touch with you, we will facilitate contact therough our office. I hope you understand our position. Kind regards.
April 24, 2011
#6
My family is currently in living hell trying to manage as we cannot get any help for my 16 year old teenage niece who shows all the characteristics of Borderline Personality Disorder. We keep getting told she has to agree or go herself. But how can she agree to get help when she is not in the right state of mind. She's self-destructive. That's the whole point. So we are dealing with the daily crisis of trying to manage her erratic & impossible behaviour, demands, moods etc. Meanwhile she is taking risks and is only getting worse/scarier. It's a living nightmare. I don't know how much more we can take.
What happened to prevention, intervention and helping someone who is crying out for help on the inside! It's torn us a part to see her suffer, it's torn our family a part from the chronic stress & drama of dealing with it. There is minimal peace and rest! Not to mention walking on egg shells. It's completely taken our life and sanity too. We have sacrificed, given and devoted so much, yet she still attacks us. Then we react and look like the bad ones. But we can only take so much and patience runs out, especially when you're being treated without care or decency. But in the end we somehow find that patience again and around we go.
She refuses to accept any boundaries or responsibility and it's impossible to enforce them. Kicking her out will only assist her destructive path and we can't see how that will help - it will only reconfirm perceived rejection. So she comes and goes as she pleases. Sometimes gone for days on end and usually returns with a new drama. She refuses to talk and wants everything on her terms. It's like you're damned if you do & you're damned if you don't. We are on the roller coaster ride with her. She is completely apathetic towards us and self consumed. I just want this nightmare to end and the truth is it's a life sentence. I don't know how much more we can take or what's next?
December 12, 2010
#7
i want some support around dealing with my mum who has my cat and keeps asking for her things back. i don't find it pleasant to spend time and converse with her. she suffers from schizophrenia but also seems to have a difficult personality too. eg, i ask her to help me with chores when she's at my house and she says, 'that's not fair.'
i reside in croydon.
February 21, 2011
#8
Hi
In your resource page "Top Tips for helping children" there is a reference to "children's coping skills programs and group". Could you indicate to me where i would be able to locate more information on these programs and groups?
Many thanks
February 22, 2011
#9
Hi Anon,
ARAFMI's Branches run children's coping skills and similar programs from time to time at Central Coast, (4369 4233) Hunter (4961 6717) and Illawarra (4254 1699). Links to their websites etc are available on this website under the 'Branches' tab.
Our Branches can give you details of their current programs.
Our Information and Support Line (9332 0700 or 1800 655 198) will have details of other programs across the State.
Alternatively you might try:
Young Carers- set up by Carers NSW
http://www.youngcarersnsw.asn.au/
(Click on the [AGE UNDER 12] icon)
Or:
C.O.P.M.I. (Children of Parent with a Mental Illness) Resource Centre (Australian Government – Dept Health and Aging)
April 19, 2011
#10
hi
I was wondering if there is a support group for partners of people who are suffering Depression and anxiety in the Northern Beaches/Manly area
Thanks
October 4, 2011
#11
I would contact ARAFMI's support groups. If you can't seem to find a support group that fits your specific needs, you might try your family physician. I know that there are support groups for everything from people who have symptoms of fibromyalgia to people who are grieving the loss of a loved one. If you are suffering from depression or know of someone who is suffering from depression, I would definitely seek some sort of expert in the area to help you. Good luck!
January 24, 2012
#12
It's recently hit me what a high price me and my family have paid for our brothers mental illness. I realized that my mother has been absorbed with it/him for the last 38 years. Since I was 8 I've learned to live with a mostly absent mother (no father). Now she is old and I'll and I still think I can help or change something. In truth it's the utter helplessness that makes me so distressed. That and realizing I have grown up alone and had he been better managed I could have been more instrumental in his management. My mother kind of took it on and excluded us thinking she was saving us embarrassment or stress or something. I can't cope with seeing them in this terrible situation. Is there anyone I can talk to??? ps I had 6 other siblings. My younger brother died of mental illness related problems. Another brother became heroine addicted and spent a long time in & out of prison. I'm just finding it difficult to cope with my helplessness ...
January 25, 2012
#13
Hi Elia,
Looking after someone with mental illness can be an extremely hard job. It is very important for families and friends to build a support network for themselves to be able to support others without having a negative impact on their wellbeing. There are a number of support options for your mother.
The Family and Carer Mental Health Program, which offers counseling, support groups and training to mental health carers, is provided across the state. The Commonwealth Respite and Carelink centre is another option; they organize short-term respite, allowing carer to have a break while their loved one is looked after by a trained worker. They also offer assistance with meeting the cost of respite if required.
Mental Health Carers ARAFMI NSW also operates an Information and Support Line based in Sydney, providing information and referral services. The Information and Support Line can be contacted us 02-9332 0700 or on 1 800 655 198 toll-free.
Best regards,
Snow
ARAFMI Information and Support Line officer
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The ARAFMI Infoline has a conprehensive list of support groups across the State of NSW and can advise you of one close to you and relating to your area of interest - please feel free to give us a call!