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Getting Help for Mental Health or AOD Issues

OaktreeSenior Contributor11 Aug 2025, 8:30 pm AEST

Getting Help for Mental Health or AOD Issues

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Hi everyone,

I thought it might be helpful to talk about getting help for our mental health or alcohol and other drugs issues. It might help the community to share experiences and places we can turn to, to get help. Just bear in mind that we can't use names for medications or drugs because of community guidelines.

One obvious place to turn for help on leaving the defence force is the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA). Although they don't help everybody, it depends on your diagnosis. I have Bipolar and they decided not to help me although they did apparently give me a white card but I only got it last year after 34 years being ex-Army. Services include health care, financial assistance and support transitioning to civilian life. You can find out about DVA by going to their website https://www.dva.gov.au

Another place is Open Arms. Services include individual, couple and family counselling, case management and group programs. They also offer self-help resources and suicide prevention training. https://www.openarms.gov.au

There is also Legacy. Legacy supports families where there has been the death or injury of a loved one in service. https://www.legacy.com.au

The Returned Services League (RSL) - provides advocacy and welfare support for veterans and their families. Services include assistance with DVA claims, financial aid, housing support and social events. https://www.rslaustralia.org

There are also many other private ex-service organisation's in Australia.

I did not have much luck getting help and ended up in the public mental health system. I really struggled between 2008 and 2020 where I was constantly in and out of hospital. I am happy to report that now I am on a medication regime that really works for me, and I haven't been to hospital since November 2021. Recovery is real and there is hope. For me it has been a long journey, but I am hopeful that my good health will continue well into the future.

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In response to: Getting Help for Mental Health or AOD Issues

OaktreeSenior Contributor22 Aug 2025, 8:14 pm AEST

Re: Getting Help for Mental Health or AOD Issues

@Azalea

I think it was a very strong and courageous thing to admit you had a problem with addiction and to seek help for that. It is also a strength to admit it here on Sane. It's great that you are so open about it because other people in the same situation can identify with you and maybe they will think about getting help too or at least talk to you about your experience. Don't downplay how huge that is.

I am glad that your ADHD diagnosis helped you. I think I have it too but it's hard to know without an official diagnosis. So many of the symptoms cross over with signs and symptoms of Bipolar which I know I definitely have because I have had so many manic episodes followed by unbearable depressive episodes which lasted for a year or more. Also I can't afford to pay for a diagnosis and my treating team in the public clinic don't diagnose ADHD.

In response to: Getting Help for Mental Health or AOD Issues

r3freshContributor03 Sept 2025, 6:17 pm AEST

Re: Getting Help for Mental Health or AOD Issues

@Magpie22 you are so right about how finding the right counsellor makes a difference. I have seen at least 6 different people over the last 13 years (when I finally made the decision to seek help). And while most of them were 'ok' I felt that none of them were really the right 'fit' for me. This year I happened to stumble on a counsellor (through OpenArms) who is different to the others. One who challenges me in ways that make me uncomfortable, but for good reasons. I don't always feel 'better' immediately after a session, but I always walk away with a different mindset that sometimes takes a few days to sink in.

I'm glad to see that you have also found someone who gets you. Next we just need to figure out how to clone the good ones so that everyone can benefit.

In response to: Re: Getting Help for Mental Health or AOD Issues

Magpie22Peer Guide04 Sept 2025, 9:03 pm AEST

Re: Getting Help for Mental Health or AOD Issues

that’s great to hear @r3fresh

my current great counsellor was also an accidental find - I have never seen a male counsellor before but with wait lists everywhere so long and trying to find places that would see me under White Card it was a case of beggars can’t be choosers!

When I see him I often take a few days to process what we have discussed - and it’s usually some realisation I’ve made because of a great question he’s asked rather than him telling me anything. I think that’s why I like him so much - he leads me to figuring my own stuff out rather than someone else telling me what’s “wrong with me”

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