Tanya’s Story

Tanya’s story talks about how mental health issues affected her family

“I noticed that he started to change two years ago and I watched him all the time and then it was around Christmas time, in December that he had a bad episode and he was admitted to the hospital. I just broke down, I couldn’t handle it.  In a few months he just deteriorated, very withdrawn from everybody, he won’t get out and communicate with anybody.  He was never ever like that, but now he is just a different person altogether. So he did go down very fast.

I am a very private person, I like to keep things to myself and just talk to my family mainly my Mum. When he was in hospital and one of the doctors told me that he needed a full time carer … I take meals over every night to him and make sure that he is eating, check on him every day after work and then tell him I will be back tonight to check on you again. It hurts to see my baby brother like that, cause I am the older sister but I just have to be strong and help him the best way I can and be there for him, and to support him.

I am very grateful for HelpingMinds, because we didn’t know about HelpingMinds. I’ve got somewhere to go and sit down, like I’ve said, I go into HelpingMinds® let Candice know if I’m struggling with something or need assistance I can just let Candice know what I need and she will see if she can try and help me.

It’s a good place to go and sit down and have a cuppa and a catch up and just share our stories with each other.

I feel like that, there’s a second family where we can go and get our help.

When we need respite and that, they got a house in Dongara where we can go down and have respite. Even help in Perth, we are not stuck and we can get help down there as well.  I know that I am not alone, HelpingMinds® is there and that’s given me hope.”