​Support for families and carers

Support services and information

There are a range of support services and resources available for families and carers:

1. COPMI - Children of Parents with Mental Illness: Children of Parents with Mental Illness​ (COPMI) provides support for young people and families where parental mental illness is a part of family life. Find more information here. To access support in these situations please contact your local child and youth mental health team.
   Locations and contacts:
   • Hornsby Community Health Centre - Find more information about this service h​ere.
   • Lower North Shore - Find more information about this service here.
   • Northern Beaches - Find more information about this service here.
   • Ryde Child Adolescent and Family Centre - Find more information about this service here.
2. Mental health family and carer information guide: This guide provides an overview of mental health services and contains useful information to support families and carers to navigate the mental health service. Find more information ​​ he​re.
   
3. Uniting - family and carer mental health program: Uniting’s program offers a wide variety of supports for families and carers including one on one support, support groups, and other events. This program is offered free of charge. Find more information ​​ here.
   
4. Carer Gateway: offers services and information about counselling, peer support, carer coaching and other supports. You can find out more at Carer gateway
5. Mental health carers NSW: are the peak body for mental health carers in NSW, representing the voices and lived experience of carers. You can find helpful information, brochures and training and education workshops ​here. There are also several helpful resources for families and carers about the mental health system at Carers and the mental health system - mental health carers NSW
6. Carers NSW: provide a range of services for families and carers, including online education and information resources at Carers NSW website here.
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​Information for health workers

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Family and carer mental health program

The family and carer mental health program focuses on improving the wellbeing of families and carers of people living with mental health challenges, as well as promoting the recovery of the people they support.

• Carers need support, information and education to help sustain them in this role.
• The program focuses on:
• Family inclusive mental health services – through expert advice and consultation by specialist staff to embed best practice culture in service delivery;
• Engaging and including families and carers in the service system and being responsive to their unique needs;
• Providing education, training, individual support and advocacy services for families and carers;
• Working in partnership with families and carers to improve awareness of and access to a diversity of services relevant to their needs.
• For more information visit Family and carer mental health program page.

Angela Hunter

Family and Carer Program Manager

Email: [email protected]​