Expert Mental Health Resources and Support

LHAC Inc.
LHAC is a health promotion charity supporting people affected by mental illness. Working with consumers, carers, families, and friends, it aims to reduce stigma and prejudice. LHAC offers coastal support groups featuring art therapy, music, exercise, and encouragement tailored to members' interests: www.mycommunitydirectory.com.au/Queensland/Gold_Coast/
GCYS is a not for profit, specialist youth support and homelessness organisation. They help young people and their families in the Gold Coast Region who may be marginalised, disadvantaged or homeless: www.gcys.org.au/

Action for People with Disability Inc.: www.actionadvocacy.org.au/

Council for Intellectual Disability: www.nswcid.org.au/

Disability Advocacy Network Australia: www.dana.org.au/find-an-advocate/

Multicultural Disability Advocacy Association: www.mdaa.org.au/

People with Disability Australia: www.pwd.org.au/

Synapse: www.synapse.org.au/

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects both children and adults. Symptoms can include unique challenges with attention, planning, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. ADHD also brings strengths – many individuals with ADHD are highly creative, excel in innovative thinking, and can sustain intense focus on tasks they are passionate about.

Understanding ADHD helps celebrate the diverse ways people navigate and contribute to the world around them.

Understanding ADHD: Information for Parents: www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/adhd/Pages/Understanding-ADHD.aspx

ADHD Australia: www.adhdaustralia.org.au/about-adhd/

ADHD Foundation: www.adhdfoundation.org.au/understanding-adhd

ADDITUDE: www.additudemag.com/download/adhd-symptoms-in-adults/

For Gold Coast Referral Pathway for Alcohol and Other Drug Youth services (12 to 25 years) click here

For some useful information sheets from a US website: What is Alcoholism? click here

Anxiety affects everyone differently. It comes with various symptoms and levels of severity. For some, it’s triggered by specific situations, while for others, it can appear unexpectedly. Some people experience multiple symptoms, others may only notice one, or simply feel a vague sense that something isn’t right.

Anxiety Coach: www.anxietycoach.com
Provides information on anxiety disorders including panic attacks, phobias, agoraphobia, fear of flying, and fear of public speaking.

Help-For.com www.help-for.com: Help for Anxiety, Phobias, OCD, and Depression.

Anxiety 2 Calm: www.anxiety2calm.com
An online magazine for people who experience anxiety.

Resources available on a variety of mental health topics: www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/

ASD is a condition related to brain development that impacts how a person perceives and socialises with others, causing problems in social interaction and communication.

Visit the following websites for more information:

www.tonyattwood.com.au

www.aspergersyndrome.org

www.mindsandhearts.net

For up-to-date information on topics related to autism:

Queensland: www.autismqld.com.au

South Australia: www.autismsa.org.au/

Victoria: www.autismvictoria.org.au/home/

Western Australia: www.waadf.org.au

• Butterfly Foundation: www.butterfly.org.au/body-image/body-image-explained/

• Headspace: www.headspace.org.au/explore-topics/for-young-people/body-image/

• Women’s Health & Equality Queensland: www.womenshealth.org.au/

Borderline personality disorder is a mental health condition that affects how people see themselves and others, making daily life challenging. It often involves intense, unstable relationships, impulsive actions, and a negative self-image.

People with this disorder may have a strong fear of being abandoned, even while wanting close relationships. This fear can lead to mood swings, anger, impulsive behaviors, and sometimes self-harm, which can make relationships harder to maintain.

BPD Foundation: www.bpdfoundation.org.au/services_qld.php

Everyone faces tough times in life, no matter how much we try to avoid them. Many people find relief by talking to loved ones, listening to music, or seeking counselling. Counselling provides a safe space to share feelings without fear of judgment, guided by skilled therapists.

Counselling is a type of therapy that helps you work through challenges. It doesn’t just focus on surface issues but also explores deeper causes. The key values of counselling are empathy, fairness, and positive, nonjudgmental communication.

• Australian And New Zealand Mental Health Association: www.anzmh.asn.au/blog/8-benefits-of-seeing-a-counsellor

Many people don’t realise that depression is an illness. If they haven’t experienced it, it can be hard for them to understand how it feels. But understanding what depression really is can help people take it more seriously.

For some, depression feels like a heavy, dark curtain of sadness over their life. Others might feel like they don’t deserve anything or believe they’re not good enough. Some feel constantly irritated for no clear reason.

Beyond Blue: www.beyondblue.org.au

• Depression help and information including news and events, discussion forum, depression research, resources and related organisations

A Complete Depression Guide: www.depression-guide.com

• This easy-to-understand guide highlights the many different forms of depression. It includes information on depression, antidepressants, treatments, and symptoms.

Resources available on a variety of mental health topics: www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/

• Eating Disorders Association of Qld: www.eda.org.au

• ANRED: Males with Eating Disorders: www.anred.com/males.html

• ANZAED: Australian and New Zealand Academy for Eating Disorders: www.anzaed.org.au/

• Butterfly Foundation: www.butterfly.org.au/eating-disorders/eating-disorders-explained/

• Women’s Health & Equality Queensland www.womenshealth.org.au/

• Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement: www.grief.org.au

• The Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement is an independent, not-for-profit organisation provides grief and bereavement education to support individuals, organisations and communities to help enhance well-being following adverse life events.

• National Association for Loss and Grief (NSW): www.nalag.org.au

  National Association for Loss and Grief (NSW) offers advice on grief issues.

• National Centre for Childhood Grief: www.childhoodgrief.org.au

• Kids Help Line: www.kidshelp.com.au

  Kids Help Line is Australia’s only free, confidential and anonymous, telephone and online counselling service specifically for young people aged between 5 and 25.

• LifeLine: www.lifeline.org.au

  Lifeline is a not-for-profit organisation offering a number of services, including telephone and online counselling, training, and community events, at both the national and local level.

• The Compassionate Friends: www.thecompassionatefriends.org.au

  TCF is part of world-wide self-help organisation offering friendship and understanding to bereaved parents, siblings and grand-parents. They offer friendship and understanding to families who are grieving the death of a child of any age, from any cause including suicide. All bereaved family members are welcome.

• The White Wreath Association: 
  www.whitewreath.com

  The White Wreath Association is a national organisation which offers support for those bereaved by suicide as well as advocating for changes to provide greater support for those at risk of suicide and their carers.

  Grief Australia: www.grief.org.au/internetl.html

• Mind Tools Stress Management: www.mindtools.com/smpage.html

  Tips and techniques helping you manage the stress in your life.

• Stress Education Center: www.dstress.com

  Devoted to stress management for organisations and individuals, and information to enhance your levels of health, wellness and productivity.

•  Stress Management: www.stressmanagement.com.au

  Effective Ways to deal with stress through stress management.

• Resources available on a variety of mental health topics: www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/