Some thank you messages are so special they need to stand alone.
I am sharing this one with the blessing of the author.
“Hi there, I’m just wanting to say a big thanks to you all for the amazing work you do. My husband received one of your quilts while deployed in Afghanistan and he loved it. He unfortunately took his life and as much as we are all deeply saddened, we look to your quilt for comfort. We sit under it as a family and talk about him and all the good times we had with him. So thank you again for all your hard work.”
This message is bittersweet. The loss of yet another serving member as a result of is service is utterly devastating, but to know that our quilt is providing his family with comfort when they most need it means more than words can express.
One of our recipients recently wrote that we are making a difference with our quilts and laundry bags, possibly much more than we know.
This is as good a time as any to publish this list again. You might like to file it away somewhere so you can find it if you need it. I am not the expert with all these contacts so if you see something that is out of date or needs updating, please let me know so that I can edit my list for future reference.
If you’re struggling please Reach Out
Emergency assistance
If you need emergency assistance, please phone 000 for police, ambulance or fire services NOW.
Crisis support lines
If you need immediate help in regard to a crisis in your health or living circumstances, the following helplines provide telephone crisis support and counselling 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and online assistance (limited hours, depending on the service):
Lifeline
13 11 14 – www.lifeline.org.au – A crisis support and suicide prevention service for all Australians.
Suicide Call Back Service
1300 659 467 – www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au – A free service for people who are suicidal, caring for someone who is suicidal, bereaved by suicide or are health professionals supporting people affected by suicide.
Kids Help Line
1800 55 1800 – www.kidshelpline.com.au – A counselling service specifically for young people aged between 5 and 25.
State crisis Numbers
NSW – 1800 011 511- Mental Health Line
VIC – 1300 651 251 – Suicide Help Line
QLD – 13 43 25 84 – 13 HEALTH
TAS – 1800 332 388 – Mental Health Services Helpline
SA – 13 14 65 – Mental Health Assessment and Crisis Intervention Service
WA – 1800 676 822 – Mental Health Emergency Response Line
NT – 08 8999 4988 – Top End Mental Health Service
ACT – 1800 629 354 – Mental Health Triage Service
Counselling services
The following counselling services are available to support and assist people from various groups and communities who are facing mental health difficulties.
Mensline
1300 78 9978 – www.mensline.org.au – MensLine Australia is the national telephone (24/7) and online (3pm – 8.30pm daily) support, information and referral service for men with family and relationship concerns.
Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service (VVCS)
1800 011 046 (24/7) – www.dva.gov.au/health_and_wellbeing/health_programs/vvcs… – The VVCS provides counselling and group programs to Australian veterans, peacekeepers and their families.
QLife
1800 184 527 – www.qlife.org.au – Qlife exists to enable lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex communities to work towards better health, including mental health. Telephone and online support is available 5.30om – 10.30pm daily.
CAN (Mental Health)
02 9114 8150 (Sydney callers) or 1300 135 846 (intra & interstate callers) – www.canmentalhealth.org.au – Consumer Activity Network (Mental Health) provides a national telephone peer support line for customers four evenings per week called Phone Connections.
Carers Australia
1800 242 636 (9am – 5pm) – www.careraustralia.com.au – short-term counseling and emotional and psychological support services for carers and their families in each state and territory.
eheadspace
1800 650 890 – www.eheadspace.org.au – eheadspace is a confidential, free and secure space where young people 12 – 25 or their family can chat, email or speak on the phone with a qualified youth mental health professional, Telephone and online support is available 9am – 1am. You can also visit www.headspace.org.au to find your closest headspace centre and other information.
1800 RESPECT
1800 737 732 – www.1800respect.org.au – 1800 RESPECT is the national sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service for people living in Australia,
Relationships Australia
1300 364 277 – www.relationships.org.au – Relationships Australia provides relationship support services to enhance human and family relationships.
Counselling Online (alcohol and drug concerns)
www.counsellingonline.org.au – Counselling Online is a 24/7 online service where you can communicate with a professional counsellor about an alcohol or drug related concern, using test-interaction.
Child Abuse Prevention Service
1800 688 009 – www.childabuseprevention.com.au – offers information, referral and ongoing support to those affected by child abuse, concerned about the welfare of a child, or needing family or parenting support.
Information and referral services
MindHealthConnect
www.mindhealthconnect.org.au – MindHealthConnect brings together trusted mental health resources and content including, online programs, fact sheets, audio and video, and online support groups.
Mi Networks
1800 985 944 – www.minetworks.org.au – Mi Networks can help connect you to accurate information, support and assisted referral to the best local services available.
SANE Australia
1800 18 SANE (7263) – www.sane.org – Telephone mental illness advice and referrals, weekdays 9am-5pm, as well as online resources and information.
beyondblue
1300 22 4636 – www.beyondblue.org.au – telephone (24/7) and online (4pm – 10pm) for depression, anxiety and related disorders, as well as online resources and information. You can also search for a mental health professional by postcode here.
ReachOut.com
au.reachout.com is Australia’s leading online youth mental health service, providing help, information and support.
Commonwealth Health website
Links to a wide range of mental health policies, strategies and resources are available from the Department of Health website.
R U OK?
If you are looking for information on how to help a friend, colleague or family member or someone you know who may be having difficulty, please visit the R U OK website.
Lifeline Australia home 13 11 14 – Crisis Support and Suicide Prevention -…
LIFELINE.ORG.AU
Till next time………….keep spreading the word and
LEST WE FORGET.
My heart goes out to the family. Rest In Peace, Thank you for your service. Thank you for the information I have saved it on my computer.
So sad to read but nice to hear the family have some form of comfort.
Inspiring yet heart wrenching to read. It warmed my heart to read that even in the midst of the grief and turmoil that this family are going through, your wonderful work provides them with some comfort. May his soul rest in peace.