Lived Experience Forum

[NikNik]

Hi everyone,

Today we will be running a Q&A session with HelpingMinds, a WA based organisation who work with carers and people affected by mental health difficulties to provide support in advocacy, counselling, understanding the mental health system, education and respite.

We will be joined at 1:30pm EST (10:30am WST) by HelpingMinds to find out more about what they do and how they do it 🙂

Hope to see you here!

[NikNik]

Today Sue from HelpingMinds is joining us to share a bit of information about who HelpMinds are & what they do!

Thanks for joining us Sue!

Firstly -

Can you tell me a bit about HelpingMinds – who it is aimed at and a bit about what areas HelpingMinds deals with? 

[HelpingMinds]

Good morning and thank you for the opportunity to share with you information on HelpingMinds during Mental Health Week.

HelpingMinds was formerly known as Arafmi and is the pre-eminent mental health services and carer support organisation, that was established nearly 40 years ago as a not for profit charity in Perth, Western Australia.

We have a professional and compassionate team of staff and dedicated volunteers who provide quality, confidential  support and services to children, youth, adults and families who are caring for someone with a mental illness or individuals who are affected by a mental illness.

The majority of our services are free of charge and focus on: advocacy, understanding the mental health system, education, counselling and support, school holiday programs and respite.  Visit our website for more information www.helpingminds.org.au

[NikNik]

Wow - so you guys cover a spectrum of things and offer a lot of different services!

You mentioned that the organisation was previously known as ARAFMI - Can you tell me a bit about the name change?

[HelpingMinds]

Yes, for the past 40 years we have been know as Arafmi (Association of Relative and Friends of The Mentally Ill).  

The last few months have been exciting as we have undergone a total brand review with a new name, logo, tagline and website to support our evolution into a leading not for profit Mental Health Services and Carer support organisation.

The new organisational name HelpingMinds and brand identity reflects our commitment to provide the very best counselling, respite and support services to carers and individuals affected by mental illness. 

The tagline “Helping You” illustrates that HelpingMinds is there to support and understand carers and clients as they try and live their best life possible whilst being affected by mental illness or caring for someone who is affected by mental illness. 

The new name is easy to recall, relevant and current.  The logo displays two speech/brain bubbles that demonstrate the start of a conversation and how switched on and bright the brain can be with a little help.  

We have had very positive feedback and wonderful support as we transitioned to the new name, we hope you like it?

[NikNik]

Great!

It looks like HelpingMinds has a lot planned for Mental Health Week.

Here is a bit of an overview

It's a bit of a small print there - can you tell us about some of the events?

[HelpingMinds]

Yes its a very busy week !

Thank you for listing our events, the best way to view them and get further information is by visiting our website events page, here is the link HelpingMinds Events  and our website address again is www.helpingminds.org.au.

[NikNik]

We have about 15 mins until we wrap up 🙂 So if anyone has questions - please post them soon!

Sue -

What is coming up for HelpingMinds over the next 6-12 months?

[HelpingMinds]

HelpingMinds is constanty working on improving & increasing the range of services we offer.  

Over the next 6 months we are launching an exciting new program called Recovering Our Families which  offers a valuable online support program that  supports the entire family-those in active distress, family and friends who are members of a distressed family system, supportive allies and professionals.  

This fully facilitated, interactive online course is designed to educate and support individuals and families in a safe and supportive space while providing tools to aid in your family’s mental health recovery.  These tools include:  sharing stories for the purposes of connecting and healing, learning from those who have recovered from psychiatric labelling and extreme emotional states, deepening our understanding of the continuum of mental health, harnessing the power of hope, using our strengths-based approach in communication, staying connected during psychosis, setting healthy personal boundaries and celebrating recovery stories.

Evaluation on this course by the University of North Colorado stated; strong levels of satisfaction, improved capacity to support family member/s, more hopefulness toward recovery, improved coping & communication skills within the family and improved confidence about recovery.

The next online course will be run in mid November and HelpingMinds will sponsor the first 150 participants fee, contact us today to find out more on 1800 811 747 or email info@helpingminds.org.au

[NikNik]

That sounds like a great course - is the for people in WA only?