Lived Experience Forum

[Pete1]

• Hello. Long term pyschiatric problems with physical problems including Klippel Feil syndrome and Mullerian duct. I was wondering where I can go to get long term help and a place to stay.
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[tyme]

Good Evening @Pete1 ,

Thank you for your post.

It's hard to say exactly where you could stay and receive care for your psychiatric and physical conditions.

It really depends on the state/area you reside, your age, the purpose of your stay, length of stay.

For psychiatric units for rehabilitation, you can look into Continuing Care Units (CCUs).

For old age + psychiatric purposes, there are specially established units.

For physical health, aged care.

For independent living with medical assistance, you can look into retirement villages.

Otherwise, there are online/phone services such as SANE's counselling and peer support helplines.

Sorry this is so broad. It's hard to say.

Feel free to browse through the forums to see if there is anything of interest to you.

All the best,

tyme

(Peer Support Worker)

[tyme]

Hi @Pete1 ,

If you are looking for a long term psychiatric facility, whether you have private health or not, doesn't mean you can stay there forever.

Do you have a psychiatrist or treating team you can speak to? It also depends on your age. I think you'll have to speak to professionals so they know what is best for you.

Psychiatric facilities are generally there to help you get back on your feet, then integrate you back into the community.

All the best,

tyme

[Dimity]

Hello @Pete1 

I'm so sorry you don't have support for your medical and psychiatric needs. And that you need somewhere to stay. Are you homeless at present?

Finding a regular GP you can trust is important.

Finding accommodation seems really hard at the moment. If I were homeless I'd try contacting a charity like the Salvos for a start and see what they can suggest. 

The Forums are usually a welcoming place and I hope you can find friendship and support here. There are many people here with complex needs and we all have individual strengths and skills. I hope others will join me in welcoming you. 

Best wishes 

Dimity

[Dimity]

@Pete1 I forgot to say if you want to reply to someone you can type @ in front of their username. We also have lovely community guides to help you find your way around like @Shaz51 and @wellwellwellnez . Do you have a particular psychiatric diagnosis? You can connect with others willing to share their lived experiences. 

Best wishes

Dimity

[ShiningStar]

Hi @Pete1 

I just wanted to reach out and welcome you to the forums - it’s great to have you here 💜

I’m so sorry to hear that you’re living with long term mental health and physical health conditions and I’m so pleased that you reached out here for some support 💜

In my experience trying to find the resources that we so desperately need can be incredibly frustrating and distressing and as such, there have definitely been times in my life when I’ve felt completely overwhelmed and as though I was searching for a needle in a very large haystack!

With this in mind, I just ever so gently wondered if you had a GP who you felt comfortable talking with? In my experience, GP’s can be a wonderful resource, as they’re not only knowledgeable about the physical and mental health conditions that we’re living with, but they also understand how to navigate the various health care systems. As such, they may be able to co-ordinate some referrals on your behalf, so that you can access the longer term support that you need 💜

Just from what you’ve shared with us, I wasn’t too sure what type of accommodation you’re searching for, or if perhaps you’re experiencing (or at risk of) experiencing homelessness 💜

In my experience, the Department of Housing (the name of this department often changes depending on which state you’re living in) provide a wealth of information in relation to the different types of accommodation that you may be eligible to apply for.

They also have Housing Service Centres or offices that you can contact if you require further information or support 😊

Furthermore, the Department of Housing often provide details about services and /or hotlines that are especially designed to support people who are homeless (or who are at risk of becoming homeless). In my experience, the majority of these services are available 24 hours a day 7 days a week 💜

I wasn’t too sure what state you’re currently living in and as such, I’ve included the links to each Department of Housing, just in case you would like to explore the one that’s most relevant to you:

https://www.qld.gov.au/housing

https://www.housing.vic.gov.au/

https://www.facs.nsw.gov.au/housing

https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/housing

https://www.housing.wa.gov.au/Pages/default.aspx

https://www.communities.tas.gov.au/housing

https://www.communityservices.act.gov.au/hcs

As I sat here thinking about what you’ve shared with us, I also wondered if ‘Head to Health’ may be something that’s helpful for you.

Essentially, ‘Head to Health’ is an online directory that enables people to search for the support that they need. For example, you can search for adult mental health services 😊

They also have a virtual assistant called ‘Sam’ who can support you to find the resources and information that you’re interested in 💜

I’ve included the link below, just in case this is something that you would like to explore further:

https://www.headtohealth.gov.au/service-providers/explore-all-service-providers

Also, just while I remember, one of the things that really helped me when I was new to the forums and still finding my way around, was that if you would like to chat with another forum member, or reply to one of their posts, place @ in front of their username just like I did at the start of my post to you i.e. @Pete1 that way, they will receive a message that you have contacted them 😊

Please remember that you’re always welcome to reach out here whenever you need to 💜

I hope that this helps you a little bit and I look forward to seeing you around the forums 😊

Take kind and gentle care of yourself,

ShiningStar 💜