Accessing mental health services with type 1 diabetes

This resource was created in consultation with Dr Rosalyn Taylor, clinical psychologist who specialises in diabetes at the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service.

Living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) can often mean we emphasise our physical health at the expense of many other aspects of our wellbeing – including our mental health. The truth is, we shouldn’t overlook the emotional, social and psychological ties T1D and mental health have to each other.

How does type 1 diabetes affect mental health?

Diabetes can make life feel frustrating and unforgiving. It’s a sensitive creature that can be affected by stress, exercise, illness, excitement, travel, work and routine changes, hormones, our age, food and drink, insulin type/dose/site, or even for no reason at all.

There are some sobering T1D and mental health statistics out there: for example, people living with T1D make an extra 180 decisions every day compared to the average person – and these decisions can be extra stressful, as they’re often critical to their health and wellbeing. Living with T1D also puts you at greater risk of developing depression, anxiety and even eating disorders.

It’s tough to maintain blood glucose levels and hold onto motivation, especially when T1D is something you must manage 24/7. Diabetes burnout is real.

So, when the going gets tough it’s important to know support is available for mental health issues, and to know where and how to access that support.

Where do I start?

Accessing mental health support and services in Australia can feel complex, but you shouldn’t be discouraged! If you’re in need of support, you should find someone to be your first point of contact and who can help navigate mental health services with you.

In any case, this person should be someone you trust and is available to see you regularly – for example, your general practitioner (GP), diabetes educator or a community mental health worker.

Is accessing mental health services expensive?

Not necessarily. Your GP can refer you to a psychologist or mental health social worker for counselling. They can make this more affordable by filling out a Mental Health Care Plan under the Better Access Scheme. 

You and your GP will develop the Mental Health Care Plan together. It will be a summary of how you’ve been feeling, as well as a treatment plan and options for support services that will help you achieve your goals.

If you have private health insurance you may be covered for part of the cost, but you should check this with your fund.

Many public hospital diabetes services have specialist diabetes psychologists who are available at no cost. If you’re already seen a diabetes team in a hospital setting, ask if there’s a T1D and mental health specialist you can be referred to. You don’t need to complete a Mental Health Care Plan with your GP to access this.

Who can help?

If you access a Mental Health Care Plan, your GP will be the starting point for seeking professional help. They’ll refer you to an eligible psychologist, social worker or occupational therapist. Or they might decide the best course of action is to refer you to other mental health practitioners. Ask them to consider health practitioners with expertise in T1D and mental health, or specialists who work with people with chronic diseases.

Some examples of other mental health practitioners include:

• psychiatrists
• mental health nurses
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers
• counsellors
• complementary health practitioners
• hospitals
• crisis assessment or acute treatment teams

Read more about the difference between these health professionals and treatments they provide at Beyond Blue.

Where can I access mental health care?

There are many ways and places where you can access mental health services, for example: your home, at a medical practice, in a hospital or by attending a specialist facility.

If you need emergency help with a mental health condition, you can call for an ambulance on triple zero.

Check out some of the various places you can access mental health services below.

Personal strategies to apply when dealing with anxiety or depression

As well as accessing support with the mental health practitioners listed above, it can help to try a few personal strategies when coping with anxiety or depression. This can vary from person to person. You could try the following:

• get regular exercise
• research statistics about T1D and mental health (this can help remind you that you’re not alone)
• eat well, including a range of healthy foods
• join friends for social activities
• limit your alcohol intake
• talk to your family and friends honestly about how you’re feeling.

Other free sources of support

You may be looking for other support while you address your mental health needs. Here’s some resources you can access from JDRF Australia and other organisations:

• join one of JDRF’s private Facebook groups so you can talk to people who understand what you’re going through. We have groups for parents and carers of kids and teens with T1D, and groups for people aged 14 – 24 years or 25 years and over who live with T1D
• register for one of our Let’s Talk T1D sessions. These are held throughout the year, with a different topic covered each time
• download a free book from JDRF with information to help you manage your mental health and life in general. These include:
  • Straight to the Point, our book for adults with T1D
  • Testing Times, our guide for teens and young adults
  • If You’re Okay, They’re Okay, our wellbeing guide for parents and carers of kids and teens with T1D
• access a range of fact sheets and resources on diabetes and mental health on the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) website. You could bring any of these along to your first consultation to help start your discussion.

To talk to someone urgently, contact:

• Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636
• Lifeline: 13 11 14