Sue Hamilton-Bayly has found it difficult to tap into mental health services in the region.
Photo by
Billie Davern
After having no choice but to embark on an hour-and-a-half drive alone amid a mental health crisis, Sue Hamilton-Bayly knew that something needed to change.
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Sue graduated from The SEED Project’s Change Makers program on Thursday, June 26, touching the hearts of those in the audience with an honest telling of her dealings with mental health services in the region.
Completing the program has instilled within her the skills to find her voice and share her story.
Sue hails from Kilmore, a town where mental health support is scarce.
“In the last few years, I’ve had a need to tap into some mental health resources, and found that to be extremely difficult rurally,” Sue said.
“There are lots of places in Melbourne that you can tap into, but I didn’t want to go to Melbourne, I wanted to try and stay local.”
After trialling medications, Sue found herself battling “an anxiety attack that I couldn’t control”.
Sue was referred to Goulburn Valley Health’s mental health triage after attending her local urgent care centre.
“I just didn’t know where to go, where to turn, so I presented myself at the Kilmore urgent care centre, and they saw me there and recommended Goulburn Valley Health,” she said.
“I think I spent about seven hours or so waiting in the emergency section, it was pretty awful actually, being quite hectic in there and loud with the state I was in.
“And, it wasn’t a good drive, in the state that I was in, you know, with the potholes, and not really knowing what to expect when I got there.
“Then I had to approach the triage desk several times to tell them what was happening ... I just felt like they weren’t taking me seriously.”
While Sue was able to receive the support she required at Wellways Prevention and Recovery Care in Shepparton, what she emphasises is how difficult it was to access the service she needed.
Sue Hamilton-Bayly (second from right) recently graduated from The SEED Project’s Change Makers program, along with (from left) Tamara Rhodes, Christa Capobus, Jaz Evans and Suzi Boje.
Photo by
Billie Davern
A spokesperson said the Victorian Government offered free telehealth services that regional Victorians could access.
“People in Seymour and nearby areas can access a wide range of mental health supports including through Partners in Wellbeing — a free, confidential phone service that helps manage anxiety, depression and stress, so no-one faces these challenges alone,” they said.
“The local community can also access mental health supports via the Murray Primary Health Network and Goulburn Valley Health’s mental health and wellbeing services.
“We’ve delivered 15 mental health and wellbeing locals across 17 locations, including seven in northern Victoria — and with seven more recently announced, even more Victorians will soon get access to free mental health care close to home.”
Sue believes, however, that the region lacks physical support.
Despite her struggles with the lack of services, Sue says she’s in a better place now.
“Don’t keep everything to yourself because people are more understanding than you think,” she said.
“You might look fine on the outside, but deep down, a lot of people are going through what you’re going through.”
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