WHAT WE DO
ONLINE SUPPORT GROUPS
The Missing Link in a Failing System
Australia’s mental health system is failing young people due to long wait times, limited access to psychiatrists, and a lack of early intervention programs. However, an overlooked consequence of this failing system is the neglect of the parents and carers who are on the front lines every day. Without proper support, they struggle to provide the stability and care their child needs, perpetuating a cycle of crisis. By investing in and promoting support groups for carers, we can strengthen the entire mental health support network, ensuring that young people receive not just medical treatment but also the long-term, informed, and compassionate care they need at home.
THESE GROUPS ARE NOT JUST HELPFUL...
THEY ARE ESSENTIAL.
Support groups for parents and carers of mentally unwell young people are crucial because they address a major gap in Australia’s struggling mental health system.
While much attention is given to the treatment of the young person, the wellbeing of their caregivers is often overlooked, leaving them isolated, overwhelmed, and unsupported.
Register your interest in joining a virtual support group,
we'll be holding these every TUESDAY at these session times:
LUNCH Group 12-1:30 pm &
EVENING Group 6.30-8pm
SPONSOR A VIRTUAL SUPPORT GROUP
1 month
$120
3 months
$360
6 months
$720
12 months
$1,440
WHY ARE SUPPORT GROUPS NECESSARY?
Emotional Support & Validation
Parents and carers experience high levels of stress, guilt, and exhaustion. Being part of a support group allows them to connect with others who truly understand their struggles, reducing feelings of isolation and validating their experiences.
Practical
Guidance
Navigating the mental health system is complex and frustrating. Support groups provide firsthand advice on accessing services, understanding treatment options, and advocating for their child within a fragmented system.
Preventing Carer Burnout
Preventing Carer Burnout. When carers are unsupported, they risk burnout, which affects their ability to provide the necessary care for their child. Support groups promote self-care and resilience, helping parents maintain their own mental and emotional health.
Empowerment & Advocacy
A collective voice is stronger than an individual one. Support groups enable parents to advocate for better policies, funding, and services, pushing for systemic change that benefits all families dealing with youth mental health issues.
Bridging the Gap
The Australian mental health system is notoriously underfunded and overstretched, often leaving families without adequate professional support. Support groups help fill this void by offering a space where families can share resources, strategies, and hope.
PARENT & CARER SUPPORT GROUP -
"MUMA GROUP PILOT SERIES 2025"
WOW, what a success! We joined a bunch of mums together for our pilot MUMA SUPPORT weekly group. It ran for 12 weeks and we had 12 participants in total. Ending with a fantastic face-to-face catch up hosted by one of our fabulous Mums from the group.
We treated the mums to 2 live speakers who kindly donated their time
Dr Lisa Myers - psychiatrist www.awarehub.com.au
Nina Cruz - conscious parent coach www.ninacruzconsciouscoaching.com
We were all enthralled with what they had to say not to mention being enthralled with each other!
It was a magical experience. There were lots of cuddles, laughs and tears but it was an experience that has formed a bond that we continue to rely on. It was a privilige it was to witness.
The purpose of this 12 week pilot run was to build some quantitative data on whether our model would be helpful to this cohort of parents and carers.
It was a resounding YES!!!
Whilst they're enduring the journey of their child's mental health crisis and the effects it has on them and their families, the lack of support for them is disappointing. We have proven that yes, it is desperately needed and what we offer is unique and we are the first and currently the only organisation to help parents and carers on such a raw and vulnerable topic and delivered in this very accessible way.
We are therefore proud to be offering 2 time slots each week on the back of our observations and can't wait to cast the net further into rural and regional NSW and Australia wide.
TESTIMONIALS
Mary 32, Muma of 2
"The group sessions were very welcoming and without judgement. It was a relief to be able to openly share experiences and feel supported.
Sophie is passionate and empathetic, and a great advocate for change"
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Alicia 53, Muma of 2
"Thank you for setting up this foundation. The way you have brought people together is a gift to us all. Everyone made made me feel so welcome with a topic that has often made me feel isolated and judged.
I am eternally grateful."
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Dee 60, Muma of 3
"I have waited 12 years to find a group like this...
and yes I've found my smile again xxx"
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"The Please Stay Foundation has been a huge support for me. Raising easy kids is easy, I have two of them. I also have a daughter with mental health issues which makes parenting extremely challenging. But unless you have a child with challenges, it's hard to understand the complexity, the impact on the family and your own mental health as well as how to best support your child. It's a maze trying to work out which support services will be most helpful, how to get through the day and keep your child safe and alive. This Foundation has made all the difference for me. For the first time I felt I was not alone. I'm surrounded by empathetic and understanding people who are struggling like me. It's a safe place, free of judgement, just supporting and sharing our own experiences, which are very helpful to each other. Sophie has created something that was desperately needed in a world where mental health is spiralling. It's a lifeline for many of us. "Leanne 53, Muma of 3
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EDUCATION
YOUTH WELLBEING FIRST AID TRAINING COURSE - YWHFA
Training modules will be taught online or Face to Face as follows;
1hr or 3hr Online
1hr or 3hr Face to Face
Our tailor made Mental Health courses are targeted to parents and care givers of young people as well as first responders and anyone in the community who is around our young people which includes, tweens, teens, young adolescents and adolescents.
So let's face it, it's a course that we all should be doing!
These Youth Mental Health First Aid YWHFA courses, equip participants with the knowledge and skills needed to understand the concepts of mental health and to recognize, respond to, and provide support to young people who may be experiencing mental health challenges. We aim to empower participants to better understand these challenges and develop the confidence to provide meaningful support to young people in need.
Today’s youth face a range of pressures and challenges, including academic demands, social expectations, family dynamics, and exposure to trauma or adverse experiences, bullying and of course the increased exposure to social media and AI, just to name a few.
We have combined the experience and knowledge of lived experience parents, care givers and young people, as well as Doctors, Academics and professional trainers to create an education program that we are very proud to offer, in a practical and digestible format.
Our Bespoke courses are intended to provide participants with the following outcomes, skills and knowledge;
Empowering participants with the knowledge and skills to understand youth mental health concepts and recognise the physical, behavioural, and psychological signs indicating a change in a young person’s mental wellbeing.
Develop an understanding of the unique challenges youth face and how to provide appropriate support to help them navigate these pressures while promoting resilience and wellbeing.
Address immediate safety concerns for a young person in the aftermath of a distressing or traumatic incident.
Know how to respond to emerging mental health crises, ensuring the safety of the young person and understanding where to seek immediate help or professional support.
OUR TRAINERS
MARY BLANKEVOORT
EDUCATOR & TRAINER - LinkedIn
Mary is an entrepreneur, trainer, and mental health who co-founded Metro Training in 2009, focusing on first, health and safety, and compliance consulting for various sectors. With a UNSW degree in Industrial Relations and Political Science, she has over 20 years of experience in training and development. A mother of two neurodivergent young adults, Mary’s late ADHD diagnosis inspired her to create inclusive spaces for learning. As a Youth Mental Health First Aid instructor with the Please Stay Foundation, she equips others to support young people in crisis.
SARAH DALTON
EDUCATOR & TRAINER - LinkedIn
Sarah is a speaker, trainer, mentor and creator of The RAPPORT Advantage™, a signature methodology based on the belief that strong relationships drive better communication. With 30 years of experience in sales and customer engagement, she's delivered over 1,000 workshops to more than 25,000 people across many industries including real estate, construction, government, and customer service. Her clients include Samsung, Bosch, Ray White and many more.
Sarah is an accredited DISC Advanced Profiler, Mental Health First Aid Accredited Instructor and proud R U OK? Ambassador. She combines behavioural insight, practical experience and genuine warmth to help leaders and teams navigate difficult conversations, build psychological safety and strengthen communication.
WISHES
Grant a wish to save a life.
A glimmer of hope
A spark of joy
A Lightbulb Moment
That's all it takes to lift the spirits of a young person and lift the burden on a family trying to keep their young person alive.
Our mission is to provide a holistic approach to youth mental health. To make sure no young person, or family, has to go through it alone.
STICK AROUND KIDDO, WE GOT THIS xxx
We grant wishes to our precious young people. To spark some joy and break the cycle.
WISHES LIKE funding private mental health treatments, hair & beauty treatments,
meeting an idol, or anything that can make your young person's eyes light up.
Their wish is our command.
WHAT'S IN A WISH?
TREATMENTS & EXPERIENCES TO INCREASE CONFIDENCE AND SELF WORTH
SELF-HARM SCAR REDUCTION TREATMENT
Self harm is common in young people with a mental health condition. Their scars are a constant reminder of where they've been and prevent them from getting back out into the world. The fear of showing their scars and the judgement they feel can be debilitating and an unnecessary road block in their recovery. Laser treatment helps reduce scars by 50% over 12 months but only accessible at a cost of $6,000.
PROFESSIONAL SKIN CARE TREATMENTS
Acne is a very common condition in kids and young people, and can add to one's feelings of low self esteem and in severe cases stop them from leaving the house. Treatment is available however a dermatologist appointment can exceed $400 p/hr plus the medication prescribed and neither are covered by Medicare.
PROFESSIONAL HAIRCARE
Hairdresser appointments are both expensive and daunting. The thought of sitting in a salon in front of a mirror talking to strangers is too much to bear. We've partnered with the Feelgood Project Foundation who provide a safe space for our young people and their parent or carer to come and enjoy being pampered at no cost.
PUBLIC VERSUS PRIVATE MENTAL HEALTH CARE
SPECIALIST APPOINTMENTS
Private practitioners should be with your child and family for the long haul, as a holistic approach without having to repeat your story or have differing opinions from a plethora of doctors, counsellors, social workers in the public hospital system.Let us find and fund a private psychologist, psychiatrist or counsellor for you. It's a game changer although unaffordable for most.
A Psychiatrist appointment can be in $700, Psychologist $300 +, Counsellor $ 150+
ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES
DNA TESTING for Pyrrols Disorder, heavy metal testing, trauma based therapy such as kinesiology and NET, acupuncture and high dose supplements.These treatments have helped many kids so far and we'd like to make them available to as many as possible, because they work!
We have a proven track record!Hair Follicle/heavy metal testing $150, DNA testing $300+, Kinesiology $140
FEEL-GOOD EXPERIENCES
A LIFE CHANGING HOLIDAY
A chance to get away, leave the current situation to relax and reset as a family. Somewhere totally removed from the pressures of the current situation. All expenses paid, flights, accommodation, whatever they need to make this experience a circuit breaker - a spark of joy - something to look forward to that was otherwise so far from possible. Each experience is tailored to each individual and their family.
A SHOPPING SPREE
"A new wardrobe" is a wish we'd love to grant parents who've been caring for an unwell child haven't been able to work and therefore new shoes and clothes don't come into the day to day living costs of putting food on the table and rent and bills etc. Some new clothes can lift the spirits of a young person and significantly help them gain confidence to venture back out into the
world with their head held high.
DONATE A WISH
Help turn wishes
into lifelines...
Help us get young Aussies to stay, or we may just loose them forever.
Help fund our mission to break the cycle in youth mental health and suicide by granting wishes, funding private mental health treatment, and providing ongoing support for parents and carers.
We granted a life changing wish for Arlea.
Here is her story...
*Trigger warning - mentions of self-harm & suicide