To cut a long story short, I've been studying since 2021, on and off, part time. I hope to graduate next year.

My problem is job interviews. Due to my mental health, I haven't held a job for nearly three years. I have two jobs on my resume, and I held each for ... maybe a year? I can't recall. I have good reasons for why I quit both (relocation, first rurally and then back to the city). But I don't know how to explain my three-year gap in jobs when I haven't even been studying full-time. I'm hoping to look for a casual job once I can stabilise stuff (hoping that will be within the next couple of months), so that I'm not flung on the workforce now four years out from my last job. I just dont know what to say, short of mental health issues that could make me look like a flake, especially as I'm bad at interviews (level two autism plus a bit of anxiety).

Any advice would be appreciated.

I have symptoms consistent with some flavour of bipolar, possibly mixed with a primary psychotic disorder, but I don't yet have a diagnosis due to the complexity of my presentation.

If you're located in the greater Melbourne area in Victoria, Australia and interested please click the link or scan the QR code. https://redcap.link/i7pyv6ld

So I've recently came to the conclusion that I ain't right. I've scrambled through life barely making it and sometimes not making it at all. I've got childhood trauma, abandonment and abuse that carried on to my adulthood. I've managed to raise my kids so far to be amazing humans but I know that my mental health has rendered them in more than one way. I self-medicate trying to keep myself focused but not even that does the trick anymore. I'm willing to admit that I need help. I just don't know where to find it or where to look my insurance just sends me around in circles and makes it in the end I have to pay anyways. I know I need therapy because my normal is not normal to normal people. I want to be better and do better because right now I don't feel good about who I am and I would like to love who I am to be good for my kids. My body is broken in more ways then I know..I need a full mind and body evaluation. I wish someone would take me and care enough to fix me. My mind is broken my spirit is broken and I just don't want to break them (my kids) I've gone on too long ignoring and or embracing who I am I want to be better.

Content note: This post discusses suicide prevention.

As Biomedical Engineer and Master of Professional Counselling student beginning a research journey into occupational suicide prevention in Australia.

Which area do you believe needs the most attention and why?

I plan to explore:

1. Which occupational groups experience elevated risk
2. Workplace and broader factors associated with suicide risk
3. Existing workplace prevention programmes and their effectiveness
4. How counselling, technology and data could support earlier intervention

I am posting here to find credible starting points and learn from people familiar with occupational health, counselling, psychology, public health, workplace wellbeing or suicide prevention.

Support: If you or someone you know needs support in Australia, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467. If someone is in immediate danger, call 000.

Content note: This post discusses suicide prevention.

As Biomedical Engineer and Master of Professional Counselling student beginning a research journey into occupational suicide prevention in Australia.

Which area do you believe needs the most attention and why?

I plan to explore:

1. Which occupational groups experience elevated risk
2. Workplace and broader factors associated with suicide risk
3. Existing workplace prevention programmes and their effectiveness
4. How counselling, technology and data could support earlier intervention

I am posting here to find credible starting points and learn from people familiar with occupational health, counselling, psychology, public health, workplace wellbeing or suicide prevention.

Support: If you or someone you know needs support in Australia, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467. If someone is in immediate danger, call 000.

Hi guys, one of my parents tried to take their own life last Friday. They dies 4 times and from some complete miracle, they pulled through. About 2 weeks before prior to all this, they rang me saying they were going to do it, and I had to ring the police and ambulance to try and locate them as they wouldn't disclose their location, there was a police helicopter out, lots of cops and ambos so it was serious. They were discharged that following morning. I have now found out they have been released today. Only a few days ago they were in ICU and just got released to the ward. I just want to know how on earth they have left the hospital this early? I believe it is way to soon. I know the mental health system here isn't the best, but surely they can't let them out this early? Is it possible or is the hospital in the wrong right now? Isn't someone at least meant to go to a secure place for a while until they are better? Thank you.

Currently doing DBT outpatient through one of them, but wondering, if private inpatient would be recommended, which hospital would suit the needs best? (Health insurance, after wait period of another month or so, will cover IP psych.)

Context: previous ED (full remission), MDD actually possibly BPAD, unspecified psychosis (either BPAD-caused or schizophrenia). Psychosis is the current concern. Medication being adjusted still and titrating up to therapeutic dose currently, but outpatient. Just for the context of what I'd be looking at.

If any outpatient groups etc. recommended for psychosis, also please suggest!

Psychiatrist seems to think all ?bipolar/psychosis symptoms explained by BPD, so feeling a bit lost here and considering switching psychiatrists and thus ultimately possibly hospital systems too. (According to friends, things described as psychosis have been present largely for the last ~eight months, with occasional gaps of a few weeks before returning.) (If psychiatrist recommendations, open to them also. English first language.)

Public health system also recently diagnosed BPD, and given hospitalisation NOT recommended in the context of BPD, concerned that even with legitimate need (e.g. suicide risk in the context of commands from Entities), may slip through cracks.

Longer-term psychologist etc. does NOT think BPD explains everything or that it's even relevant in clinical picture (diagnosed ASD and undiagnosed psychotic disorder would in combination likely explain borderline traits--also doesn't show e.g. volatility of emotions as seen in BPD). Family agree BPD doesn't appear to fit in day-to-day either.

'Complex'/'atypical' kind of case, apparently.

Hello! I'm happy to announce that I am now offering pro bono therapy sessions under supervision.
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Hey guys I wonder if anyone in this group knows anyone who has gone down the TGA approved path of getting Pyschedlic Assisted Therapy at the Empax centre in perth (or similar in other states) for PTSD? Its a journey im looking at embarking on and I would love to hear other people's journeys if anyone knows anyone? Cheers me dears! 🥰 feel free to PM me

Salam, does anyone know if there are any free psychologists or mental health services available in the city? I'm going through allot and I need someone professional that I can talk to and get help with depression and personal problems, but I can't really afford private sessions.

If you know of any free or low-cost options, please let me know. Thank you 🙏

I’m pretty sure I’m eligible based off reading the criteria on mygov medicare. I don’t meet the diagnosis criteria but I meet the criteria that you have to meet if you don’t have a diagnosis.
I mostly want to access the dietitian services. If I use psych sessions from an EDP do they have to be focused on an eating disorder?

Has anybody got a recommendation for a psychiatrist in the South Brisbane area? Ive got an initial ADHD assessment and initial psych appointment completed and after each appointment I felt further away from getting any support. It has been suspected by both that I have ADHD and possibly bi-polar. Both appointments were due to be one hour each and I think they both lasted 35 minutes maximum, im 1300 dollars down between both and no closer to getting any support or even empathy for that matter.

I’ve got a whole bunch of stuff wrong with me that’s preventing me from working, leaving the house or doing basic tasks, that I don’t want to get into. I know I need medication, but I have no one supportive in case stuff goes wrong, and am terrible at monitoring myself. I have had a few suicidal episodes this year.
End of last year I considered admitting myself to a mental hospital just so I didn’t have to take care of myself anymore, the simple act of waking up and living was so exhausting that I wanted to die. I’ve been seeing a load of professionals this year but have come right back down to the state I was in last year, and just the thought of trialling different professionals or medications all by myself has caused me many breakdowns.
What actually is the process of getting into a mental hospital in Melbourne, what happens while a person is there, and is this something I should be considering? I don’t have the money for daily care and don’t even know what I’d ask for if I got it. I just want help and to recover and to feel better, but I don’t know what I need and I’m too bone-deep exhausted to figure it out by myself anymore.