Local mental health boosted by $11.8 million government funding

For Charlotte O’Grady, becoming a young carer was almost “a reflex”.

Growing up with a parent with a mental illness, she experienced first-hand the severe and often devastating impacts of an emotionally absent guardian and felt frustrated she could not do anything to fix it.

That’s why she walked through the doors of North Melbourne’s Satellite Foundation, determined to support others going through similar situations.

“Mental illness is complex, ever changing and brutal, so when you see someone facing these challenges you want to do anything you can to help,” she said.

“I felt that I couldn’t talk about this with other kids, teachers or adults because I was often told that ‘it wasn’t my job to help’, but it’s just not that simple.”

Satellite Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation based on Victoria St, which delivers programs, workshops and activities for children, young people and their families who have parent or family member loving with mental illness or psychological distress.

It utilises a combination of creativity and the integration of lived experience to promote confidence, self-esteem, and good coping strategies.

Around 250,000 children and young people in Victoria live with a parent of carer who has a mental illness, according to the foundation.

Without support, these people are more than twice as likely to develop their own mental health issues.

That’s why the Victorian Government recently announced $11.8 million in funding for the Satellite Foundation, helping realise the recommendation to support carers though the mental health, community, and education systems, as set out by the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System.

Satellite program graduate Fel Andronicou, 20, is managing her own mental health challenges as well as those of both her sister and mother – something she began doing at the age of 12.

Currently self-employed and an intern at the Disability Resources Centre, Ms Andronicou said she had struggled with friendships throughout her life due to her autism.

“As I struggled with friendship, I would often be around my family and spend time with my mum and began unofficially supporting my mum by helping with dinner, doing this to distract [myself], just sitting and listening and [doing] other chores,” she said.

“My own mental health got progressively worse as a result for multiple reasons, one being my caring role of my family as it was very taxing.”

Georgia Willmott, another Satellite program graduate, and artist, creates podcasts and films focusing on mental health and surrealism.

When she was little, she said her mum was grieving the loss of both her parents while raising five kids. Her dad was dealing with significant burnout and relationship difficulties, leaving Ms Willmott to cope with emotional neglect.

“Earlier this year I discovered the Satellite Foundation during a period in therapy where I was learning how childhood trauma has impacted my whole life,” she said.

“It has helped me gain a connection with other young people dealing with similar issues and I have met many inspiring mental health advocates. They have also helped me build skills in self-care, self-compassion and have inspired me to follow my dreams in the creative field.”

Ms O’Grady is now studying psychology at university and dreams of a job that will allow her to help others in a mental health setting.

Seeing mental illness hurt the ones she loves “lit a spark” in her and working as a carer at Satellite Foundation is just the beginning.

“Satellite has helped me to realise that I am not alone in feeling this way. I feel genuinely inspired by the other young carers that I have met through Satellite, seeing so many want to also pursue roles where they can support others,” she said.

“It’s a beautiful thing to be part of a team who are fighting for the same thing; together we can advocate, educate, offer support and have our voices heard, and that truly excites me!” •