Local Meg Perceval is the founder of Inverell-based mental health charity More Than Awareness.
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She has been conducting PHD research with the Australian Institute of Suicide Research and Prevention (AISRAP) at Griffith University in rural wellbeing and suicide prevention. Ms Perceval is passionate about rural mental health and has worked in suicide prevention for more than a decade.
“One day I would like suicide to be like polio – basically eradicated from our society. We just have to find the vaccine,” she wrote in an Inverell Times article in 2017.
Below is Ms Perceval’s expert advice on helping a friend or family member if they are struggling with mental health.
What to do if someone says they’re not OK
– Ms Perceval says it’s important to give the person a choice on how they approach their recovery.
– If it’s an emergency, call 000. They will direct you to ambulance, police or suggest another service if appropriate.
– The Mental Health Line, 1800 011 511 is a state-wide, 24 hour service manned by a mental health professional. They can assess the urgency of the situation and suggest appropriate follow up measures. “Ideally if you’re worried about someone, you should get the person to ring with you, for the person themselves to speak to a professional,” Ms Perceval said.
– You can present to the local hospital emergency department if it’s out of hours.
– Ms Perceval recommends making an appointment with your local GP, who can prescribe medication if necessary, assess for related health factors and refer the patient to a psychiatrist. Medicare will pay for six sessions with a psychologist if the person is referred by a GP.
– Counselors and psychologists can also be accessed privately. This is more expensive. It will include an upfront cost and may not be available through Medicare.
– Students can be referred to a school counsellor.
– Other useful services include Lifeline (13 11 14) for 24 hour crisis support, au.reachout.com which has several articles and tools on topics like exam stress, bullying and depression as well as an anonymous forum and Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636) which provides mental health facts, resources for workplaces and schools, and various support options. The Suicide Callback Service on 1300 659 467 is a 24 hour helpline for anyone bereaved or affected by suicide.
