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Support for families & carers

We know that engaging, supporting and working with families and carers leads to better outcomes for consumers and for their families and carers.

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We support and work with families and carers to:

  • improve family and carer wellbeing
  • promote improved communication and emotional climate within families
  • reduce carer burden
  • improve clinical outcomes for consumers

Support options

Family and carer engagement, assessment, supports and interventions are available across all phases of care and recovery.

Interventions are also available for families in which a parent with dependent children has a mental illness.

Assistance can be offered:

  • to people accessing NorthWestern Mental Health services and their families or carers
  • by external agencies through linkage or referral

Specific family support programs are available at each of our Area Mental Health Services.  An example of one such program is the Multiple Family Group Program provided at the Inner West Area Mental Health Service, shown on the video below:  

Young mental health carers

Young mental health carers are children or young people up to the age of 25 years who help care for someone who has a mental illness. They may support a parent, sibling, child, grandparent or other relative or friend in a number of ways including cooking or cleaning, providing companionship or keeping their family member or friend safe.

Many young carers say that caring is a positive experience for them and they have developed important life skills and have strong relationships with their family member or friend. Sometimes, however, young carers say that the responsibilities of caring can impact on their own needs including doing school work, spending time with friends and negatively affect their emotional and physical wellbeing.

Find out more about these programs and the resources available:

Flexibility

Support for families can be provided flexibly in order to best meet individual needs, either in person or over the phone. Clinicians can see family members separately or together with the person accessing the service.

    Related links
    Advance statements: Health Victoria An advance statement sets out a person’s treatment preferences in case they become unwell and need compulsory mental health treatment.
    Anxiety Recovery Centre Victoria The Anxiety Recovery Centre Victoria (ARCVic) is a state-wide, specialist mental health organisation, providing support, recovery and educational services to people and families living with anxiety disorders.
    Carers and Families: Health Victoria The Mental Health Act recognises and supports the important role of carers and other key support people in the assessment, treatment and recovery of people with mental illness.
    Carers Victoria Advisory Line Carers Victoria works closely with government and other support organisations to improve the lives of caring families throughout Victoria.
    Children of Parents with a Mental Illness (COPMI) Promoting better outcomes for children and families where a parent experiences mental illness.
    headspace headspace is the national youth mental health foundation dedicated to improving the wellbeing of young Australians.
    Mental Health Victoria Mental Health Victoria is the peak body for mental health and wellbeing in Victoria.
    Mind Australia Mind offers a range of family and carer services for those supporting a family member, friend or other loved one living with mental ill-health.
    Nominated persons: Department of Health A consumer can nominate a person to receive information and to support them if they require compulsory mental health treatment.
    Tandem Tandem is the Victorian peak body representing families and carers of people living with mental health challenges.
    Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council (VMIAC) VMIAC is the peak Victorian non-government organisation for people with lived experience of mental health or emotional issues.
    Young Carers Program: Carers Victoria Find out more about the Carers Victoria Young Carers Program.
    Young Carers Program: Carers Australia Young carers are children or young people up to 25 years of age, who help care in families where someone has an illness, a disability, a mental health issue or who has an alcohol or other drug problem.
    Your rights and responsibilities We seek to ensure that consumers, family, carers, support people, service providers and the community involved with our service are aware of their relevant rights and responsibilities.