Managing CF can be incredibly challenging, both physically and emotionally. The stress of living with a chronic illness or supporting someone who does can lead to feelings including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress. It’s important to acknowledge these feelings and reach out to your primary care team if mental health challenges persist. We can also offer support and referral where needed, in partnership with your/your child’s CF care team.
CFWA Support
We have a dedicated psychosocial team that supports the community and are available to help individuals, along with the whole family. They understand the impact of CF, and strive to ensure that everyone feels connected and supported; and take a whole family approach to their support services.
Support from the psychosocial team includes:
- Well-being and counselling support
- Assistance with accessing financial support
- Social connection and community building
- Parenting and family support
- Support with routines and emotional regulation
- Managing change/adjustment
- Goal setting and practical advice
- Anxiety management including separation anxiety
- Employment and education support
All support services can be provided in home, in school, in community, in the CFWA office, online or by phone. We’re a small team with a huge reach, with plans to grow to be responsive to the psychosocial needs of our fantastic community. Please never be afraid to reach out – if we can’t help you, we will support you to find the help you need.
The best way to make initial contact with us to fill out this self-referral form or email services@cfwa.org.au
Mental Health Financial Support
Mental Health Treatment Plans can be accessed through your GP, which now entitles you to 10 Medicare subsidised sessions with a mental health professional each calendar year. CFWA can provide financial support towards your out of pocket expenses. Please see the Financial Support page for more information.
Adult Hospital Support
Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and Fiona Stanley Hospital have social workers that may be able to assist with general counselling, health coaching and support. Both hospitals also now have a clinical psychologist to enable adults with CF to access psychological support through their CF team. Speak with your team for access to these services.
Paediatric Hospital Support
For children and their carers, Perth Children’s Hospital provide psychological and social work support. They also have a program, KKind (Keeping Kids in No Distress) which provides support for children to minimise traumatic stress in hospital. Speak with your team for access to these services or visit the Child and Adolescent Health Service for more information.
External Support & Help
Adult Mental Health Services
- Beyond Blue – Beyond Blue promotes good mental health, tackles stigma and discrimination and provides support and information on anxiety, depression and suicide.
- Black Dog Institute – The Black Dog Institute is dedicated to improving the lives of people affected by mood disorders through high quality translational research, clinical expertise and education programs.
- Head to Health – Helps to navigate services in the mental health and wellbeing space.
- Lifeline – A national charity providing all Australians with access to 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention services.
Youth Mental Health Services
- CAMHS– Child and Adolescent Mental Health crisis service.
- Crisis Care– After-hours response to reported concerns for a child’s safety and wellbeing and information and referrals for people experiencing crisis.
- Headspace– Headspace helps young people aged 12-25. They can help with general health, mental health and counselling, education, employment and alcohol and other drug services.
- HelpingMinds– Mental health support services including free mental health education, services and carer support.
- Kids Help Line– A 24 hour phone counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25.
- ReachOut– An anonymous way to get help and access to information and support services 24/7, explore issues, and discover how other people have got through tough times.
- Youth Focus– Offer counselling, vocational support and resources for parents of young people needing mental health support
Apps
- Calm– the +1 app for sleep and meditation.
- Happify– overcome negative thoughts., stress and life’s challenges.
- Healthy Minds– Easy to use guide to wellbeing.
- Headspace– meditation app.
- MoodGYM– Free, fun, interactive program that helps young people identify and overcome problem emotions and teaches how to develop good coping skills for the future.
- Smiling Mind– Mindfulness app to allow you to practise a range of skills to build mental fitness.
- The Brave Program– Online self-help program designed specifically to help young people experiencing anxiety and worries.
Palliative Care
- Palliative Care Helpline– A local, confidential, and free service for Western Australians providing non-clinical information, support and resources on palliative care, advance care planning, and grief and loss.
- Rare Diseases Palliative Care Australia Group
- Rare Diseases Angels Australia Group
Links in an Emergency
Dial 000 for an ambulance for immediate assistance in the event of an attempted suicide.
If a person is highly distressed and feeling unsafe or thinks they are a risk to themselves, head to a public emergency department where there are doctors, nurses and social workers available 24 hours a day. In Perth, the emergency departments are listed here.
If a person is highly distressed and feeling unsafe or thinks they are a risk to themselves but refuses to go to a public emergency department, you can call:
- Mental Health Emergency Response (MHERL) Line – MHERL is a 24-hour telephone service for people in the Perth metropolitan area experiencing a mental health crisis.
- Suicide Call Back Service – Suicide Call Back Service is a free nationwide service providing 24/7 phone and online counselling to people affected by suicide.
- Rurallink – Rurallink is an after-hours telephone service for people in rural and regional Western Australia experiencing a mental health crisis.
Legal Assistance
- Legal Aid– Legal Aid WA aims to promote access to legal services and information for all West Australians.
- Legal Aid Services
- Youth Legal Services– A community legal centre providing services to young people under the age 25.
- Youth Law Australia– Providing free, confidential legal information & help for young people under 25