You or the person you care about may may be experiencing (or affected by) mental illness. They may have also been told that they have a serious, life limiting illness. Either way, you need to be able to access help. Mental health and palliative care services can work together to help meet your needs.
There are many decisions that you will need to make. Some of those decisions can be difficult. This is true if you are the person who is ill or of you are caring for someone who is ill. You may be worried that you may not cope well deciding about care at the end of your life. This is an individual thing. There are people who you can talk to. Your family can also find support.
Getting Help
You may want to talk to your doctor or primary mental health care provider. You or your carer may now need more support from your family, friends and healthcare providers. Finding people to support you can help to decrease distress. It is also a way of ensuring the well-being of everyone concerned. You may want to find extra support through support groups or counsellors. This can be in addition to your usual medical appointments.
There are health professionals who are able to help you with many issues. They could just be a sounding board to help you make decisions. They could provide you with emotional support. These health professionals can be found at palliative care services, at local community health centres, and at local GP practices. Sometimes specialist mental health professionals such as a psychologist can work with you and your family. Some psychologists can visit you at home with a Medicare rebate if the person they are visiting has a mental illness history.