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Mental health and wellbeing

Feelings

A dementia diagnosis can have a significant impact on your life, which can involve experiencing a range of emotions.

Talking with your friends and family about how the diagnosis is affecting you may help you work through your feelings.

There are times when it may be helpful to seek counselling from a health professional including your GP, a psychologist or counsellor.

Dementia Australia's helpline and webchat service

A telephone and webchat service that offers advice, support and counselling for people with dementia, their carers, family and friends. Operates Monday to Friday, 8am–8pm.

Dementia Australia's specialist counselling

Dementia Australia offers free, confidential, professional counselling for individuals, families, couples and professional carers at all stages of a dementia journey.

Dementia advisory service

Support provided by qualified health professionals at Alzheimer’s Queensland over an extended period to facilitate better understanding of dementia, symptoms management and care system navigation.

Online peer support groups

Information on connecting into the Dementia Alliance International peer-to-peer support groups. A group of people with dementia diagnoses discuss their experiences and strategies for coping and living positively. These free online support groups are ideal for those who can't get to a local support group or who live in isolated areas.

The Dementia Guide

A resource for any person, of any age, impacted by any form of dementia. Learn about dementia and the treatments, support and services available.

Coping with a dementia diagnosis

Information on the emotional affects of a dementia diagnosis. This guide provides tips on coping after receiving the diagnosis and taking steps to gain acceptance and maintain your quality of life for longer.

Mental healthcare and Medicare

Information about the mental healthcare you can access under Medicare including how to make a mental health treatment plan with your GP so you can receive Medicare rebates for a certain number of your allied health appointments.

My Mental Health service navigation

A website and telephone service connecting you to mental health support services and resources in the North Brisbane and Moreton Bay region. Operates Monday to Friday, 8.30am–5pm.

Search for registered counsellors

A search tool to help you find registered counsellors. Type your suburb in the search box to find counsellors near you.

Support groups

There are formal and informal support groups and networks for you, as well as your partner, family, caregiver/s and friends.

You may discover that meeting up with others and seeking assistance from those who are or have had similar situations may reassure you.

Centacare Memory Café

A place where people with dementia and carers can be themselves, share stories, discover helpful hints or simply enjoy the food and great company.

Dementia carer support groups

Online, telephone and face-to-face support groups for carers of people living with dementia. You can also join specialist groups, such as for those caring for a person with frontotemporal dementia.

Alzheimer’s Queensland

A free service for carers of people living with dementia. The carer support groups run over a 10-week period, with half-day morning teas and guest speakers.

Assistance dogs

A not-for-profit organisation that gifts service dogs to people in need. Assistance dogs can promote confidence and independence for people living with dementia. They can offer support and companionship when at home or out in the community. Long wait periods apply.

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Social activities

It's important to stay healthy by remaining engaged with friends and family, speaking to new people or trying different activities.

You can find information about social activities and community groups on our Social Connection page.

Living well with dementia

A website inspiring people with dementia to live a high quality life.

Volunteer

Volunteering is a way to socialise, keep your brain active and contribute to common good. This search tool allows you to find volunteer opportunities near you.

Volunteer with Dementia Australia

A website that shows you how to register to volunteer with Dementia Australia.

Dementia Advocates Program

An advocacy program for people with lived experience who want to raise awareness, tackle stigma and discrimination and influence decision-makers.

Social workers

If you need support with dealing with the changes that living with dementia present, a social worker can assist you. They have skills in psychosocial assessment and counselling as well as being able to assist with access to community and government resources.

Social workers can be accessed through community health services and public hospitals. Social workers may be covered by Medicare and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

Centrelink offers a free service where you can talk to a social worker over the telephone for free. They can provide counselling and information about accessing mental health support services and refer you to other sources of assistance and services. Interpreter services are available. Call Centrelink on 132 850 or visit the website for more information.

Search for social workers

A search tool to help you find qualified social workers. Type your suburb in the search box to find social workers near you.

Music therapy

Music therapy is a research-based allied health profession in which music is used to actively support people as they aim to improve their health, functioning and well-being. It can help people of all ages to manage their physical and mental health and enhance their quality of life.

You don’t need to be musical to take part in or benefit from music therapy. Qualified music therapists plan and provide musical experiences for their clients. Each session is tailored to the needs and goals of the client.

Search for music therapists

A search tool to help you find music therapists. Type your suburb in the search box to find music therapists near you.

Mental health and wellbeing

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia, their diversity, histories and knowledge and their continuing connections to land, waterways and culture. We pay our respect to all Australian Indigenous Peoples and their cultures, and to Elders of past, present and future generations.

We would like to express our gratitude to all the healthy ageing advocates, including people living with dementia, older people, families, carers and health professionals, who contributed to the development of this portal. Thank you for sharing your stories and transferring your knowledge to make this portal purposeful and meaningful to support people in the North Brisbane and Moreton Bay region.