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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    My teenage son feels depressed and helpless- advice?

    Related Topics
    Depression Mental Health
    My 19 yr old didnt like his course and now feels helpless and depressed not knowing what to do. He stays mostly in his room most of the day and will not co-operate to go out and get help.

    Are there any services around that can help him like an outreach service that come to your home. Thanks.
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  • Ida Shapievsky

    Psychologist

    Psychological Assessment Solutions is a medium-sized boutique psychology practice situated in the Sydney Hills Districts. While we have a physical office in Rouse Hill, we … View Profile

    Where about are you based? It must ve very hard seeing your son so unhappy. It might be a good idea to have a chat with him and encourage him to see someone. Some of the thing you might want to mention is how much you love him and hate seeing him so sad and different from what he used to be before. Maybe make a deal, “how about you attend 3 sessions and see how you go from there and if you do not want to continue then I will not make you”. This allows the therapist to bond with him and he might actually like it, the first step is the hardest. The difficulty in having someone come to you is that does not encourage daily activities that he should be performing - getting dressed, having breakfast, getting in the car/or the bus, and discourages them getting out of the house. BeyondBlue is a good website for you to have a look at.

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    delia

    HealthShare Member

    Thank You so much. I do live in Melbourne and have contacted BeyondBlue, but Its so hard when your child does not want to get help (being depressed) and attend sessions.

    At present I do not know where to turn for help and wish there were more outreach organisations where youth workers could come home and encourage and motivate them to do something with their lives. Will try your advice as I share the pain and sadness as well with him daily being his mum.

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  • Damien Haines

    Clinical Psychologist, Psychologist

    Damien Haines is a registered Clinical Psychologist who brings a warm and empathetic approach to therapy. He emphasises engagement in the world and encourages clients … View Profile

    My addition to this would be to get him to make contact online or directly with headspace. Some of their links are

    www.headspace.org.au (main site)

    www.eheadspace.org.au (online and telephone counselling)

    Headspace is a youth oriented mental health outreach and counselling service.

    Headspace may be more up his alley being youth focussed. That you can also gain access to counselling via the internet may also be more appealing to him.

    Hope things change for the better soon

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  • delia

    HealthShare Member

    Thank you, it really uplifts me to know there are people out day who care and give advice for nothing in return. It is a real blessing to have a website like this and I will forward your advice to him.

    Much appreciation as I myself was feeling so low not knowing where to turn for help now that he is with me after a suicide attempt 2 weeks back and 2 weeks in the psy. ward with no follow up whatsoever only his Ventaflexine tabs. that he takes once a day at night.

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  • Ida Shapievsky

    Psychologist

    Psychological Assessment Solutions is a medium-sized boutique psychology practice situated in the Sydney Hills Districts. While we have a physical office in Rouse Hill, we … View Profile

    There are also some psychologists that travel to the home and only bulk bill. I know of one in Sydney, he travels to clients home and bulk bills. Good website to find someone like that is www.psychology.org.au under community tab for Find a Psychologist

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  • delia

    HealthShare Member

    Thank You again Ida, will keep in mind as I am presently going at his pace slowly and not rushing as he is in a very delicate frame of mind at present and donot want another suicide attempt. All the info. given is very useful as I did not grow up here and donot know and have much contacts/support.Yes bulk billing will be very handy as I donot have private insurance.

                      Much appreciate your concern and help.

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