If you’re feeling anxious, stressed, overwhelmed or depressed, please know that you are not alone and that there are many free support helplines and services that can help guide you through stressful, unsafe or uncertain times. If you need help, please reach out for support.
Mental Health Support for adults
Beyond Blue
Beyond Blue is a free helpline that aims to equip you with the skills you need to look after you own mental health and wellbeing, and to create confidence in your ability to support those around them.
- Phone: 1300 22 4636 (24/7)
- Website:ย www.beyondblue.org.au
Lifeline
Lifeline is a free helpline for people of all ages, providing 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention services.
- Phone: 13 11 14 (24/7) or text 0477 131 114 (6pm-midnight)
- Website: www.lifeline.org.au
Suicide Call Back Service
A free nationwide helpline that provides 24/7 telephone and online counselling to people who are affected by suicide, experiencing thoughts of self-harm or suicide. For all ages – 24-hour crisis support telephone service.
- Phone: 1300 659 467 (24/7)
- Website: www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au
Gidget Foundation Australia
Gidget Foundation Australia provides free psychological support (with a mental health plan and GP referral) to expectant and new parents who are experiencing or at risk of perinatal depression and anxiety. They have Gidget Houses in North Sydney, the Mater, North Shore Private’s Hospital and recently opened Manly.
- Phone: 1300-851-758
- Website: www.gidgetfoundation.org.au
Parentline
Amid all the disruptions and worries that are around at the moment, many parents have never felt more alone. Parent Line counsellors are here 7 days a week. Compassionate and non-judgemental support is just a phone call away.
- Phone: 1300 1300 52
- Website: www.parentline.org.au
Mental Health Line
This free helpline will connect you with a mental health professional who can help you with mental health concerns for you or someone you are concerned about, including children, teens, adults and older people.
- Phone: 1800 011 511 (24/7)
- Website: www.health.nsw.gov.au
Listening Ear
Listening Ear is a free non-crisis helpline which provides a safe space to talk through your issues. If you are stressed, lonely, or simply need someone to talk to, their volunteers are here to listen.ย Talking with someone who will listen can make all the difference.
- Phone: (02) 9477 6777 (9am-9pm)
- Website: www.listeningear.org.au
SANE Australia
SANE Australia supports people living with complex mental health issues and the people that care about them.
- Phone: 1800 187 263 (10am-10pm)
- Website: www.sane.org
QLife
QLife provides anonymous and free LGBTI peer support and referral for people wanting to talking about sexuality, identity, gender, bodies, feelings or relationships.
- Phone: 1800 184 527 (3pm-midnight)
- Website: www.qlife.org.au
13YARN
If you, or someone you know, are feeling worried or no good, call 13YARN and talk with an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporter. This is your story; your journey and we will take the time to listen. No shame, no judgement, safe place to yarn.ย
- Phone: 13YARN (13 92 76)
- Website: www.13yarn.org.au
Mental Health Support for kids
headspace
headspace provides tailored and holistic mental health support to 12 – 25 year olds. With a focus on early intervention, they work with young people to provide support at a crucial time in their lives โ to help get them back on track and strengthen their ability to manage their mental health in the future.
- Phone: 13 11 14 (Lifeline)
- Website:ย www.headspace.org.au
Kids Helpline
For anyone 25 or under – Kids Helpline is a free, private and confidential 24/7 phone and online counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25.
- Phone: 1800 55 1800 (24/7)
- Website:ย www.kidshelpline.com.au
Child & Youth Mental Health Service – Hornsby
This service consists of a team of mental health clinicians who provide specialist mental health intervention to children and young people with severe and complex mental health problems and their families.
- Phone: 9485 6155
- Website: www.nslhd.health.nsw.gov.au
Mental Health Support for carers
Carers NSW
Carer Line offer emotional support, referrals and distribute carer specific resources and information to carers and community members.
- Phone: 1800 242 636 (9am-5pm Mon-Fri)
- Website: www.carersnsw.org.au
The National Dementia Helplineย
Provides information and advice to people living with dementia, people concerned about changes to memory and thinking, people living with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), family, friends and carers of people living with dementia and people who work in health and aged care
- Phone: 1800 100 500
Open Arms (Veterans and Families Counselling)ย
Open Arms specialises in giving access to free face to face counselling and support as soon as possible for Navy, Army and Air Force personnel, Veterans and their families. Available 24/7
- Phone: 1800 011 046
Family Violence Support Numbers
1800RESPECT
Confidential information, counselling and support service, open 24 hours to support people impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence and abuse.
- Phone: 1800 737 732 (24/7), 13 14 50 (Interpreter)
- Website: www.chat.1800respect.org
Child Protection Helpline
If you are concerned about a child and their wellbeing, you can lodge it with theย NSW Mandatory Reporter Guide
- Phone: 13 21 11
- Website: www.reporter.childstory.nsw.gov.au
Mensline
MensLine Australia is a telephone and online counselling service offering support for Australian men and boys 15 years and over who are dealing with family and relationship difficulties, mental health, anger management, addiction, stress and wellbeing.
- Phone: 1800 600 636
- Website: www.mensline.org.au
Relationships Australia
Relationships Australia is a leading provider of relationship support services for individuals, families and communities. They aim to support all people in Australia to achieve positive and respectful relationships.
Relationships Australia is a community-based, not-for-profit Australian organisation with no religious affiliations. Our services are for all members of the community, regardless of religious belief, age, gender, sexual orientation, lifestyle choice, cultural background or economic circumstances.
We offer services around the country that includeย counselling,ย familyย dispute resolutionย (mediation)ย and a range of family and community support andย education programs.
- Phone: 1300 364 277
- Website: www.relationships.org.au
Rainbow Sexual, Domestic and Family Violence Helpline
For anyone from the LGBTIQ+ community whose life has been impacted by sexual domestic and/or family violence.ย
- Phone: 1800 497 212. Available 24/7.
Financial Support
National Debt Helpline
For free and confidential advice from professional financial counsellors. The helpline is open from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday.
- Phone: 1800 007 007
Mental Health Online Resources
Reachout
Their mission is to deliver innovative e-mental health services that enable young people to take control of their mental health and wellbeing.
- Website:ย www.au.reachout.com
Black Dog Institute
Primary areas of mental health research and treatment include: depression, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, workplace mental health, adolescents and young people, suicide prevention, e-mental health, and positive psychology and wellbeing.
- Website:ย www.blackdoginstitute.org.au
The BRAVE Program
BRAVE-ONLINE is an evidence-based cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) available online to help children (8-12) and teenagers (13-17) cope with anxiety
- Website:ย www.brave-online.com
Mental Health Apps
Calm Harm
Calm Harm provides tasks that help you resist or manage the urge to self-harm. You can add your own tasks too and it’s completely private and password protected.
- Cost: Free
- Download: App Store or Google Play
Clear Fear
Face your fear with the free Clear Fear app and learn to reduce the physical responses to threat as well as changing thoughts and behaviours and releasing emotions.
- Cost: Free
- Download: App Store or Google Play
ReachOut Worry Time
ReachOut WorryTime interrupts repetitive thinking by setting aside your worries until later, so you don’t get caught up in them and can get on with your day. This means you can deal with worries once a day, rather than carrying them around with you 24/7.
- Cost: Free
- Download: App Store
ReachOut Breathe
ReachOut Breathe helps you reduce the physical symptoms of stress and anxiety by slowing down your breathing and your heart rate with your iPhone.
- Cost: Free
- Download: App Store
Smiling Mind
Smiling Mind is a meditation app for young people. It has been developed by a team of psychologists and uses mindfulness to boost calmness, contentment and clarity. Mindfulness meditation has been shown to help manage stress, resilience, anxiety, depression and improve general health and wellbeing.
- Cost: Free
- Download: App Store or Google Play
