The Family and Carer Mental Health Program (FCMHP) in northern NSW provides a comprehensive range of free supports and services for families and carers of people with a mental illness.
The program aims to ensure families and carers of people living with a mental illness receive appropriate support, information, education and skill development to fulfil their caring role, while maintaining their own health and wellbeing.
This free and confidential service is funded by NSW Health through the Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol Office.
It is delivered by Mission Australia in partnership with Northern NSW and Mid North Coast Local Health Networks.
The program assists:
- Families and carers of people living with a mental illness
- Carer support groups and networks
- Mental health services
- Non-government organisations and other service providers.
FCMHP aims to:
- Improve the coping, knowledge and management skills of carers
- Enhance the wellbeing, resilience and relationships of carers
- Improve professional and service responsiveness to the needs of carers
- Enhance relationships between carers and mental health services
- Improve health and wellbeing of people living with a mental illness.
Support for individuals
Carer Support Workers provide support to individuals by:
- Assessing their needs or their family’s
- Providing emotional and advocacy support
- Informing them about mental illness
- Referring them to appropriate support services and counselling
- Assisting them to navigate the mental health system and understand their rights
- Helping the carer to access respite and plan for the future.
For individual support, call the Carer Support Worker in your area:
Lismore Region
P: (02) 6621 5675
Tweed Region
P: (04) 0981 8643
Coffs Harbour Region
P: (02) 6658 7831
Port Macquarie/Kempsey Region
P: (02) 6584 1235 or (02) 6584 4147
Group education and training
Education and Training Coordinators provide support programs such as:
- Understanding Caring, Understanding Self Care and Understanding Boundaries
- Carers Connecting (in conjunction with Mental Health Service)
- Understanding Anxiety, Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder
- Resilience and Recovery
- Partners in Depression
- 8 Stages of Healing
- Simplifying Mental Illness and Life Enhancement Skills (SMILES) for young carers.
For education and training support, call your nearest support worker:
Richmond/Tweed Area
Clint Berry (Lismore)
P: (02) 6621 5675 or 0419 783 531
Hastings/Macleay Area
Claudia Richardson (Port Macquarie)
P: (02) 6584 4147 or 0408 265 039
Coffs/Clarence Area
Lea Williams (Sawtell)
P: (02) 6658 7831 or 0427 378 608
- Download a list of Mental Health Carer Support Groups in northern NSW (last updated July 2011).
“The program has helped me build my relationship again and helps to conserve one’s life”.
Links to useful websites
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