MENTAL HEALTH
The Mental Health Act 1996 was designed to provide for the care, treatment, and protection of persons who have mental illnesses.
A person who has a “mental illness” is one who “..suffers from a disturbance of thought, mood, volition, perception, orientation or memory that impairs judgment or behavior to a significant extent.” as defined by the Mental Health Act 1996. Some examples of a mental illness are depression, schizophrenia and bi polar disorder.
How can EDAC help one who suffers from a mental illness?
The assistance EDAC provides is for individuals and/or their carers and is:
An advocacy officer can help in resolving problems and grievances eg by attending meetings with the person and/or their carer and speaking on their behalf. The advocacy officer will also treat each person individually and with cultural sensitivity.
EDAC can help by providing information regarding services, community support groups and government agencies/policies and also liaising with these agencies.
EDAC can also assist in referrals to other services.
EDAC facilitates a variety of support and social/recreational activities for people or their carers of mental illnesses to encourage and assist one to participate in community.
EDAC can help by organizing an interpreter for any of the above services.
PRIVACY
All EDAC clients are treated with respect and dignity.
Any information collected on your behalf is kept in the strictest confidence.
CONTACT EDAC on 1800 659 921 or (08) 9388 7455
email: admin@edac.org.au
USEFUL LINKS::
HEALTH DEPARTMENT
The Mental Health Division, which is a section of the WA Health Department also has a website.
This website has information on:
Mental health and mental illness and also includes some personal stories, information about support and self-help groups. It also provides information on support and treatment services and finding a mental health professional.
News and Publications eg music feedback anti-stigma campaign and community consultaions and the Head2Head Magazine published 3 times a year.
Events eg a calendar of events in WA, Living Libraries and Mental Health Week.
OTHER AGENCIES
Below are some of the agencies which EDAC Advocacy Officers frequently use:
Mental Health Law Centre
ARAFMI
Association of Relatives and Friends of the Mentally Ill
RUAH
ISHAR
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
EDAC would like to acknowledge and thank the Mental Health Council of Australia for the funding to enable us to complete this web page.
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