Community
7 November, 2025
Tia's taking down the taboo of mental health
But behind the beans and machines, Tia has been taking on a mental health battle of her own.
TIA Fanning calls herself the “world’s cheapest therapist”.
One of her favourite things is to support people through their problems - big or small - as she fuels their day with caffine dispensed at her Charlton coffee van.
But behind the beans and machines, Tia has been taking on a mental health battle of her own.
One that could be considered as dark as the roasted beans she brews.
She doesn’t choose to look at it that way. Tia has been on a journey that has seen many twists and turns for many years.
And while she feels she may be “on the other side of it”, telling her story and reminding others where they can get their own help is one of the most important things to her.
“I’m an open book, the van is a safe space,” she said.
“But I need people to know it’s okay to not be okay... and not just one day in September, every day.”
And an open book she is. Tia has taken to social media many times to let her Charlton locals and surrounding customers know where she’s been whenever her accounts go dark.
Once you know why, you can’t blame her.
What started in her teenage years as a diagnosis of anxiety and depression, coupled with an array of medications for those conditions and more, morphed into more as she entered her adulthood.
“I was bullied a lot in high school,” she said.
“When I was 13, I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety. At 14, I was put on anti-depressants.
“At 16, they added chronic insomnia and panic disorder to the mix. We managed all this with medication and psych wards.”
While on the ward, professionals added even more to the mix.
“They thought maybe I also had bipolar, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
“They added more medication and therapy, but none of it helped.” But things started to turn at the beginning of this year.
“I was in and out of the van from the start of the year until about March,” Tia said.
“I had excrutiating back pain which lead to a combination of doctors, pain specialists from Melbourne literally throwing every kind of opiod and sedative at me without communication.
“This lead to me having an unintentional overdose in March, which is why I disappeared off the face of the Earth for about a month.
“I was found unconscious after quite a few hours and then I went to Melbourne, to my usual psychiatric facility.
“I went to the rehab side because I knew it was enough, I wanted my life back.”
During what was her third stint in the Melbourne psyche ward, it seemed a new set of eyes was about to bring relief.
“I was being observed and my psych and nurse practitioner picked up on, along with my multitude of other mental illness diagnosis, I actually have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Tia’s medications changed slightly and she was put on a high-dose ADHD kind.
It was this, that brought about the breakthrough she was looking for.
“It was like a switch change in my brain,” Tia said.
“I went from struggling to get through the day to getting 90 per cent of the jobs on my list done.
“I’m not superwoman, but you only have to look at my van figurse from April to see a difference my productivit has made.”
And while she isn’t “cured”, Tia feels she is in a much better place.
“I’m still on 12 types of medications plus suppliments,” she said.
“And this new medication needs an energy outlet, so I find myself picking my fingers to the point of pain. I can’t wash my hair because of it.
“But I would take that any day of the week to feel like I’m more physically and mentally okay, to not be on so many pain medications for that pain I was in before.”
Tia kept her socials and customers up-to-date through her most recent stint in the psych ward, sharing every detail of her day in hopes it may make a difference to someone else.
Every medication change, every sleepless night, every cognitive therapy - she shared it all.
“Mental health is such a taboo subject, and it just shouldn’t be,” Tia said.
“I want people to know I understand what they’re going through and if that helps one person understand or puts them on the right path to getting help, I’ve done my job.
“I have people messaging me regularly, asking questions or just wanting someone to talk to, and that’s amazing to me.
“I used to struggle when people would confide in me, I used to take on every little emotion someone else was feeling, to the point where it would take its toll on me.
“But now, I’m in a better place to be a confidant for people who need it.
“Whether it’s a small niggle you want to complain about, or you have an issue at home, I’m here for them.
“Nothing said at the van leaves this place, it’s a safe space.”
Tia said while most in-person mental health services were out of town, she wanted people to know about the online ones.
“I know there would be a lot of teens that wouldn’t want to make a call in fear of their parents listening, or even mums who would want to avoid their kids finding out they’re struggling,” Tia said.
“But there are so many services that have a text function, if that’s what people are most comfortable with.
“It’s important we’re aware of all our options, so people don’t avoid reaching out for help and falling through the cracks.”
If you or someone you know needs help, you can contact the numbers below:
Kids Line: 1800 551 800
Lifeline: call 13 11 14 or text 0477 131 114
Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636
Suicide Call Back Line: 1300 659 467
Men’s Help Line: 1300 789 978
Friendship Line (If you’re lonely): 1800 242 287
Headspace: 1800 650 890
Mental Health triage (CAT team - Bendigo Health) 1300 363 788
Grampians Hospital: 1300 247 647
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