Do I need to see a psychologist?

You get through every day. But you’ve been tired for a long time, even after a good night’s sleep.

Maybe you’ve also noticed:

• You get angry with your family more easily, then feel bad about it
• Things you used to enjoy don’t make you happy any more

People with milder problems are the least likely to get help. In Australia, fewer than 1 in 4 people with a mild mental health condition saw a health professional.

Many people wait for a clear sign that it’s time to get help. Usually that's too late.

Something you can do tonight. Write down two things:

• One thing you used to do and don’t do any more
• One thing you’d like to be different

These two lines are a good way to see if you might need help from a professional.

If you’d like to talk to someone, we run Side-by-Side. It’s a free short course of psychology sessions for people aged 16 and over from multicultural communities in South Western Sydney. You don’t need a GP referral, and we can arrange an interpreter for you if needed.

​The full article has 5 small steps you can take this week, and explains how a short course of sessions works.

Nicole Robinson​ Principal and Clinical Psychologist, ProActive Psychology ​proactivepsychology.com.au​