The information in this section includes some ways to find the kind of support that suits you and your needs. You may wish to just ask some general questions online, search our data base of entertainment friendly support practitioners or check up on what Medicare pays for.

While exercise, eating well and getting enough sleep might not be enough to completely dig you out from under, physical health and wellbeing can also support mental wellbeing.

+ Ask a counsellor

Submit questions to counsellors via the Health Share website here

+ Find Healthcare practitioners

While Entertainment Assist cannot make individual practitioner recommendations, we do recommend you ask friends or colleagues for recommendations as well as looking at the following resources to a counsellor, psychologist, or other individual healthcare practitioners:

+ Mental Health Plans & Medicare

Mental Health Plans are a way of accessing subsidised mental health services. You can receive a Medicare rebate for ten individual and ten group allied mental health services (eg exercise physiologist, psychiatrists, psychologists, eligible social workers) per calendar year. This means that you can receive affordable, professional support. You must be referred by your GP, who will draw up a care plan for you and help you find an appropriate service.

Alternatively, you can see a psychiatrist who is medically qualified and can prescribe medication if required. Some psychiatrists provide consultations at Medicare rebate, while others charge some co-payment. The number and frequency of consultations is determined by the referring general practitioner or with the treating psychiatrist and is not restricted by a Mental Health Plan. You must be referred by your GP who will help you find an appropriate service.

+ Wellbeing support & services

While depression, anxiety and other conditions often require specific advice and treatment, maintaining a healthy lifestyle underpins mental health. The benefits of good nutrition, exercise and enough sleep are well documented, but all of these can be difficult to maintain as a result of travel, the health of another family member, long and inconsistent hours and fluctuating work schedules. The following are general resources which may provide pathways to supporting wellbeing:

  • Cancer Council Australia. The Cancer Council can help some people affected by cancer and their families with the cost of some emergency and living expenses.
  • Dental Health Services Victoria is an example of free dental treatment available in Victoria. Similar services are available in other states.
  • HEALTH INSITE is a single entry point to quality information from leading health information providers, including peak health organisations, government agencies and educational and research institutions, as well as providing access to services, and an increasing number of online specific programs and tools.
  • Mind Australia is the easy way to find mental health and wellbeing information, support and services from Australia’s leading health providers.
  • myDr covers medical conditions, gives information on nutrition and exercise, and has a large library of online health tools and calculators to help you manage your health. myDr also allows you to search for healthcare professionals and patient support groups in your area.

Still have questions you want answered?

  • Counselling Online provides phone and online counselling
  • Healthshare Connect provides 24/7 online chat with a qualified Australian therapist. Anytime, anywhere. The first week is free.