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WayAhead

Mental Health - Education, Support and Prevention

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The Mind Reader – Lived Experience Stories

CURRENT~EDITION     CEO~REPORTS     FEATURES     RESEARCH    MENTAL~HEALTH~NEWS     WAYAHEAD~WORK

Taking care of yourself, taking care of your child with Autism

Taking care of yourself, taking care of your child with Autism

December 18, 2017

Autism impacts each child differently depending on their neural and cognitive differences. Parents and carers are continuously caring for their child, whether it be interacting with them or supervising them, finding the right interventions or financial support. Often, the responsibilities of … [Read More...]

When workplaces get it right: A case study in returning to work

When workplaces get it right: A case study in returning to work

December 18, 2017

When Paul, a healthy man in his thirties, started having seizures at work, the doctors initially diagnosed him with epilepsy. He had spent years working at a global banking company in approving loans for projects and seizures were completely new for him. The company organised training for his … [Read More...]

Creating your own fit – the story behind Queanbeyan’s anxiety support group

Creating your own fit – the story behind Queanbeyan’s anxiety support group

October 6, 2017

When Simone first moved to Canberra in 2015, there was a lot to get used to. “The weather” she said immediately, when asked what she struggled with adjusting to the most. However, with the move away from Sydney, she also left behind her WayAhead Anxiety Support Groups. When she searched for … [Read More...]

Creating connections in Cabramatta in the wake of OCD

Creating connections in Cabramatta in the wake of OCD

October 6, 2017

Anxiety disorders, including obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), can often manifest when people are quite young. That was certainly the case for Lisa, WayAhead’s newest Support Group Leader, who is facilitating the newly formed Cabramatta OCD Support Group. “I first experienced symptoms of … [Read More...]

Laura’s Story

Laura’s Story

August 1, 2017

What’s wrong with mum? Laura always knew something was wrong with her mum. She just didn’t know what. She would walk into her mum’s bedroom in the middle of the day to find her asleep in pitch darkness. Other times, she would hear her mum laughing and talking to herself when no one was around. … [Read More...]

Tackling Illness Through Art: An Interview with Christie Begnell

Tackling Illness Through Art: An Interview with Christie Begnell

June 30, 2017

At WayAhead, we first met Christie Begnell as a participant in our Eating Disorders: Dispelling the Myths video installation at Parramatta Library for Mental Health Month last year. Christie is a 24-year-old occupational therapist and artist who has a lived experience of having an eating disorder … [Read More...]

Meet Alice Cheok: The Grateful Refugee

Meet Alice Cheok: The Grateful Refugee

June 29, 2017

It is stories like Alice Cheok’s that remind us that while migrants have a past, they also have a future here and have so much to offer to the Australian community. It is stories like Alice Cheok’s that remind us that while migrants have a past, they also have a future here and have so much to … [Read More...]

The Big Black Hole: Functional Neurological Disorder [FND] / Conversion Disorder [CD]

The Big Black Hole: Functional Neurological Disorder [FND] / Conversion Disorder [CD]

April 10, 2017

Falling through the gaps in the system between neurology and psychiatry – The disconnect between Mind and Body Like many people with functional [also known as conversion or psychogenic] symptoms it has been a difficult road to travel. My symptoms began suddenly. At the time I was very active, … [Read More...]

Personal story – Stephanie

Personal story – Stephanie

December 12, 2016

Stephanie’s beautiful eyes and easy smile speak of a carefree young woman making strong strides in the world. But, it wasn’t always this way. What those same eyes mask is a past challenged by mental illness: she was diagnosed with bulimia at 18, had her first suicide attempt just shy of her 23rd … [Read More...]

Meet Jo – Carer, Sister, Aunt, Mother

Meet Jo – Carer, Sister, Aunt, Mother

December 12, 2016

Jo is a resilient woman. As a carer to her sister and nephew, both of whom lived with schizophrenia, and then to her son, who developed clinical depression and bipolar disorder, she has experienced a road full of personal heartache and despair, and while there have been moments on her journey where … [Read More...]

Support Groups

Support Groups

December 12, 2016

Australians from CALD (culturally and linguistically diverse) backgrounds are less likely to seek help for mental health issues due to a range of factors, such as language barriers, not being familiar with Australia’s health system, or simply just not knowing what warning signs to look out … [Read More...]

Jenny Smith

July 12, 2016

One woman’s journey for change in mental health awareness Jenny Smith is a consumer advisor for her local health district and a mental health educator, who shares her experience with others. She goes to regular workshops and carer support groups and generally lives a happy, healthy and fulfilling … [Read More...]

From Cambodia to Australia – Leakhena Sous

From Cambodia to Australia – Leakhena Sous

July 11, 2016

One woman’s remarkable story of survival. Jean Roxon talks immigration; looking at one woman’s extraordinary story of escaping Cambodia in the 1970s, the impacts it had on her and her family’s mental health, and what it means to be Australian. Walking through Sydney recently, it has been hard … [Read More...]

Karen Purtle – Peer Support Worker

Karen Purtle – Peer Support Worker

February 29, 2016

The role of the peer support worker is becoming increasingly popular in the mental health care sector. Harry Easton speaks to Karen Purtle, who is using her past experiences to empower mental health consumers today. … [Read More...]

Stephen O’Brien

Stephen O’Brien

February 29, 2016

You may have met Stephen. He’s the man who kept smiling at you on the bus, the stranger who approached you in the street and made a joke, the one who stood in the line at the shopping centre and smirked as he muttered under his breath. You may have met Stephen, but do you know his story? … [Read More...]

Get Support

Mental Health Support Line

1300 794 991

Anxiety Disorders Support Line

1300 794 992

5 days a week

9.00 - 5.00pm

Contact

Level 5, 80 William St
Woolloomooloo NSW 2011

info@wayahead.org.au

General Enquires:
(02) 9339 6000

Finance:
(02) 9332 0218

Human Resources:
(02) 9332 0241

Communications:
(02) 9339 6006

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