Mental health and wellbeing
Keeping our community safe and connected
Mental health and wellbeing services and support
If you, or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call 000 or visit your nearest hospital.
Mental Health Line
SANE Australia
NSW Government – Domestic and family violence support
1800RESPECT
Confidential information, counselling and support service open 24 hours to support people impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence and abuse.
Beyond Blue
An Australian independent non-profit organisation working to address issues associated with depression, suicide, anxiety disorders and other related mental illnesses. 24/7 helpline: provides information, referral and brief counselling support.
Lifeline
Crisis counselling and support. Provides compassionate support for people in crisis 24/7.
Suicide Call Back Service
A nationwide service providing 24/7 telephone and online counselling to people affected by suicide.
Men's Helpline
Telephone and online counselling service for men in Australia.
Head to Health
The Head to Health website has a range of resources for people who need help coping with anxiety or worry. It also provides links to trusted Australian online and phone supports, resources and treatment options.
Ask Izzy app
Ask Izzy is an app that can help you to find the services you need, now and nearby. It is free and anonymous, and you can search over 360,000 services to find housing, meals, healthcare, counselling, legal advice, addiction treatment and a whole lot more. If you’re on the Telstra mobile network, you can access Ask Izzy even if you don't have credit.
Young people and children
Headspace
Free online and telephone service that supports young people aged between 12 and 25 and their families going through a tough time.
Reach Out
A leading online mental health organisation for young people aged 14 to 25 and their parents.
Kids Helpline
Australia's national 24/7, confidential support and counselling service specifically for children and young people aged 5 to 25. It offers counselling support via telephone, email and a real-time web platform.
Yarn Safe
Mental health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders aged 12 to 25.
Aboriginal support services and helplines
Brother to Brother
A 24 hour hotline supporting Aboriginal men.
Yarn Safe (ages 12 to 25)
Mental health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders aged 12 to 25.
Financial support and counselling for victims
Financial support and counselling is available if you are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island person who is a victim of crime, such as family violence or sexual assault. Call the Victims Services Aboriginal Contact Line and ask to speak to the Aboriginal contact officer.
LGBTIQ support services and helplines
Provides anonymous and free LGBTIQ peer support and referral.
- Website: Qlife
- Phone: 1800 184 527
Multicultural and linguistically diverse communities
Transcultural Mental Health Services
Transcultural Mental Health Centre NSW work with people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities, health professionals and partner organisations across NSW to support good mental health. Services complement public mental health services (hospital and community) and enhance pathways to care for culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
Embrace: Multicultural Mental Health
Mental Health Australia is partnering with the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Council of Australia (FECCA) and the National Ethnic Disability Alliance (NEDA) to deliver the project.
Older Australians and carers
Carers
To get the support you need contact the Carer Gateway. Support includes counselling, connecting with others via support groups or joining on line , coaching, education and referrals.
Community Visitors Scheme
- Provides older Australians with friendship, companionship and social connection.
- Connects people with volunteers to spend time with them on a regular basis.
- Visits are available to anyone receiving government-subsidised residential aged care or home care.
During the coronavirus pandemic, we are focusing on phone and virtual friendships while physical distancing measures and visiting restrictions are in place.
Friend Line telephone support service
A free and anonymous telephone service for senior Australians to chat with a volunteer.
- Phone: 1800 4 CHATS (1800 424 287)
Dementia support
Dementia Australia
Dementia Australia represents the many thousands of Australians living with dementia and offer many support services, information and events.
- Website: https://www.dementia.org.au
- Phone: 1800 100 500
Grief and loss
Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement
Eating disorders and addiction helplines
Butterfly Foundation
Support for Eating Disorders and Body Image Issues
Mental health support services and contact list
A more detailed directory of helplines, information and support can be found on the NSW Health website:
Suicide support
Prevention, information and support for those impacted by suicide
If you, or someone you know, is thinking about suicide or experiencing a personal crisis or distress, help is available.
Tell someone about what you are thinking, even at the earliest signs.
Please contact one of these services below or speak to your general practitioner.
If you, or someone you know, are in immediate danger, please call 000 or go to your nearest hospital emergency department.
Life in Mind
A national gateway connecting Australian suicide prevention services to each other and the community.
Suicide Call Back Service
A nationwide service providing 24/7 telephone and online counselling to people affected by suicide.
COVID-19, lockdowns and impacts on our health and wellbeing
The COVID-19 pandemic is impacting the wellbeing and mental health of many of us. Feelings of anxiety, anger, fear, frustration, despair, are a common and natural response to a traumatic experience, including natural disasters and a pandemic.
Know that you do not have to go through this alone, but can reach out to support services for tips, advice and support during this time of uncertainty and adversity.
Listed here are a few key services providing support counselling, strategies and information on this pandemic. Reach out and connect and learn from one another during this challenging time.
- Australian Government Department of Health: health.gov.au
- Healthdirect hotline: healthdirect.gov.au or phone 1800 022 222
- Coronavirus Health Information Line: phone 1800 020 080
To stay up-to-date about developments related to the infectious disease outbreak you can call the Coronavirus Health Information Line on 1800 020 080.
Beyond Blue
Beyond Blue have a number of resources and information designed to provide you support and strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health
This site provides some useful information and tips for managing stress and the impacts on our mental health during adversity.
Mindspot
Includes resources and information discussing the impact of isolation, job loss, uncertainty, and staying safe and connected.
PANDA: National Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Helpline
Support to help expecting and new parents anxious about COVID-19.
- Website: (panda.org.au)
- Phone: 1300 726 306, Monday to Saturday, 9am to 7.30pm AEST/AEDT
Phoenix Australia
Resources, facts sheets and videos for community members, organsiations and health practitioners
Black Dog Institute
Disability Information Helpline
A new service called the Disability Information Helpline is available for people with disability who need help because of the COVID-19.
The Helpline is available for families, carers, support workers and services also.
You can contact the Disability Information Helpline on 1800 643 787 to talk about your concerns in relation to coronavirus (COVID-19).
If you are deaf or have a speech impairment, you can also call the National Relay Service on 133 677.
Department of Social Services
Headspace: COVID-19 and its impacts on young people
Some terrific resources are available for young people, including recognising the signs of COVID-19 on mental health and wellbeing, and acknowledging that these are normal reactions to an abnormal time. It’s also important to reach out and get help, and Headspace offer resources, help and counselling to young people ages 12 to 25.
Head to Health clinic for Australians in lockdown
To support those living in the areas most affected by the NSW lockdown, the Australian government, in partnership with Head to Heath, is establishing 10 pop up clinics in the following Primary Health Network regions:
Central Eastern Sydney (2), South Western Sydney (2), Western Sydney (2), Northern Sydney (1), Nepean Blue Mountains (1), Hunter New England Central Coast (1), South Eastern NSW (1)
The Head to Health centres in NSW will offer COVID-safe face-to-face, as well as video and phone supported mental health and assessment services, ensuring people in NSW can access the services on site or from their own homes if they’re unable to travel.
The Older Persons COVID-19 Support Line
Phone: 1800 171 866.
If you prefer to speak in a language other than English, an interpreter can help.Call the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450 and ask for your language. Then you can ask the interpreter to connect you to the Older Persons COVID-19 Support Line.