Your donation does make a difference
Your donation and support helps the 27,500 kids like 10-year old Tim life a better life…
10 year old Tim: his plight is a classic case that we see a lot, of how much burden and responsibility is placed on children of mentally unwell parents.
It wasn’t until mental health nurses first assessed Tim’s mum that they discovered she indeed had a 10-year old boy. Tim’s mother was very unwell with clinical depression which made her virtually inactive nearly 20 hours of each day. It was obvious to Tim that his mum was struggling to organise and run the household and to ensure that he was cared for. Tim’s clothes were unkempt, he was unbathed, he was dehydrated and the house was in disarray.
When Tim’s mother went to hospital for her treatment, Tim was looked after through child protection services. That was an extremely stressful and traumatic experience for Tim; first living away from his Mum to live with a new family with kids he did not even know, and then moving back to live with his Mum once more; hoping everything was going to be OK.
After a while, Tim went back to school, but academically he was behind his peers. He also struggled socially. This is not uncommon. These young people often struggle with a lack of confidence and concerns about their parent.
The good news is, in this case Tim and his mum both received support, including parenting groups and mother-child interaction work. They also got assistance in facilitating school attendance, buying groceries and looking after the home. But, these things all cost money, – which is where Gold Coast Hospital Foundation comes in.
What can be done to help support the children of those with mental health problems?
As there are limited services on the Gold Coast specialising in supporting these children, we have planned a range of new activities to be funded by this Christmas Child and Youth Appeal. Activities such as:
- Developing educational programs for children, teens and parents / carers that offer advice or strategies to help them cope and to keep their families together especially when one or more parent suffers from a mental illness.
- Education programs for our staff in the specialised area of helping Children of Parents with a Mental Illness, like the “Koping Program” run by Children of Parents with a Mental Illness (COPMI).
- Education on how to ask about children while a parent or carer is being assessed or cared for by a mental health service.
- Developing and running groups and programs for children who can come together and be comfortable in sharing their stories. They would also learn how to manage/cope with the everyday challenges of living with a parent who has a mental illness.
If you suffered a mental illness wouldn’t you want your kids to have as normal life as possible while you are being cared for by your extended family?
To make your donation please choose from the following options:
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Call us by phone on 07 55712150 |
Print out this form and fax it to us on 07 55712150: |
Print out this form and post it to us at: Gold Coast Hospital Foundation PO Box 902 Southport Qld 4215 |
Naturally you can give whatever amount you can spare for this worthwhile cause, supported solely by Donors to the Gold Coast Hospital Foundation. If you normally give a gift of $50 value, why not donate this amount in their name instead.
For those special people who would like to contribute monthly, rest assured that your kind generosity has long-lasting effects. Contributions will help children and teens on the Gold Coast to cope better with such a difficult crisis, both at the time and years into their future.
The entire Gold Coast Hospital Foundation Board thanks you for supporting our previous programs, and look forward to you doing what you can in this Child and Youth Mental Health Christmas Appeal.
Give now; about 27,500 kids like Tim on the Gold Coast need your kindness and help.
BEQUEST PROGRAM
How you can help
Making a bequest in your will is a way to leave a gift that you may not be able to make during your lifetime. Your money will support the Gold Coast Hospital Foundation to assist in providing the best possible health care for the people of the Gold Coast community.
Your bequest can take many forms:
- cash or securities
- real estate
- life insurance policies
- valuable books, manuscripts, works of art
Your support does make a difference.
Advising us that you have included the Gold Coast Hospital Foundation in your will, gives us the opportunity to thank you now, for your future gift.
Your name will be inscribed in our honour book which is kept in the Foundation's office.
You will also be updated with news on the work and achievements of the Foundation through our newsletters
