New South Wales
Help for depression
Mental health services
University Counselling services
Self help/consumer organisations/resource centres
Carer organisations
Mental health community education courses
Psychologists
EMERGENCY HELP
Mental health services
General
Contact the mental health service in your local area for help with depression.
24-hour emergency phone numbers
Web: http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/policy/cmh/cons.html
Visit the above webpage to find the emergency 24-hour contact number for the NSW Area Mental Health Service in your region.
NSW government mental health services
Web: http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/services
You can search this site to locate mental health services in your area. Under 'service type' select mental health. Then use the name of the area health service where you live or the map to search for services in your area. Alternatively, you can search by entering the name of your suburb (or town).
Mental Health Association NSW Inc.
Tel: 1300 794 991
Email: info@mentalhealth.asn.au
Web: http://www.mentalhealth.asn.au
Contact this association for information on mental health concerns. Hours are 9am to 5pm from Monday to Friday.
Black Dog Institute, Prince of Wales Hospital and University of New South Wales
Tel: 02 9382 4530 (Reception) or 02 9382 4523 (Consumer enquiries)
Email: blackdog@unsw.edu.au
Web: http://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au
The Black Dog Institute is an educational, research, clinical and community-oriented facility offering specialist expertise in depression and Bipolar Disorder. Hours are 9am to 5pm from Monday to Friday.
The Lawson Clinic
Tel: 02 9418 4488
Web: http://www.lawsonclinic.com.au
The Lawson Clinic is a psychiatric clinic (located in Gordon, Sydney) specialising in the diagnoses and treatment of depression and bipolar disorder based on the Black Dog Institute's Clinical Model. A referral from a GP or other medical practitioner is required prior to making an appointment.
University counselling services (for students)
The following NSW universities provide counselling services for their students. (Some also provide counselling services to their staff).
Charles Sturt University.
Support Central: 1300 734 654
Web: http://www.csu.edu.au/division/studserv/counsell/index.htm
Macquarie University
Tel: 02 9850 7497
Web: http://www.sss.mq.edu.au/counselling
University of New England
Tel: 02 6773 2897
Email: counselling.service@une.edu.au
Web: http://www.une.edu.au/counselling
University of New South Wales
Tel: 02 9385 5418 – Kensington (main) campus
Tel: 02 9385 0733 – COFA campus
Email: counselling@unsw.edu.au
Web: http://www.counselling.unsw.edu.au
University of Newcastle
Tel: 02 4921 5801 – Callaghan campus
Tel: 02 4348 4060 – Central Coast campus
Tel: 02 6581 6200 or 02 6581 6212 – Port Macquarie campus
Web: http://www.newcastle.edu.au/service/counselling
Southern Cross University
Switchboard: 1800 111 890 (free call)
Tel: 02 6620 3943 – Lismore campus
Tel: 02 6659 3263 – Coffs Harbour campus
Tel: 07 5506 9200 – Tweed Gold Coast campus
Email: counselling@scu.edu.au
Web: http://www.scu.edu.au/services/supportservices/index.php/2
University of Sydney
Tel: 02 8627 8433 – Camperdown campus
Tel: 02 9351 9638 – Cumberland campus
Email: counsel@stuserv.usyd.edu.au
Web: http://www.usyd.edu.au/stuserv/counselling/
University of Technology, Sydney
Tel: 02 9514 1177 – City campus
Tel: 02 9514 5342 – Kuring-gai campus
Email: student.services@uts.edu.au
Web: http://www.ssu.uts.edu.au/counselling
University of Western Sydney
Tel: 02 9772 6116 – Bankstown campus
Tel: 02 4620 3194 – Campbelltown campus
Tel: 02 4570 1108 – Hawkesbury campus
Tel: 02 9685 9228 – Paramatta & Blacktown campus
Tel: 02 4736 0337 – Penrith campus
Email: counselling@uws.edu.au
Web: http://www.uws.edu.au/currentstudents/current_students/getting_help/counselling_services
University of Wollongong
Tel: 02 4221 3445
Email: StudentServices@uow.edu.au
Web: http://www.uow.edu.au/student/services/cs
Hours are 9am to 6pm from Monday to Friday.
Self help & consumer organisations & mental health resources
GROW
Tel: 02 9633 1800 |
Free call: 1800 558 268
Email: nsw@grow.net.au
Web: http://www.grow.net.au
This is a self help organisation for people who suffer from depression and other mental illnesses. GROW is based on a 12 step self-help program. Members meet weekly.
Depression and Mood Disorders Association (DMDA)
Tel: 1300 794 991
Web: http://dmda.mentalhealth.asn.au
Support groups for consumers and carers with a mood disorder.
The Mental Health Association NSW Inc.
Tel: 1300 794 991 (Mental Health Information Service)
Web: http://www.mentalhealth.asn.au
Information/resources, support groups, and referral line.
POSIE
Tel: 02 9489 0912
Web: http://www.posie.org.au
POSIE is a non-profit group which provides support for families affected by antenatal and postnatal depression or anxiety. POSIE offers Perinatal Outreach, Support, Information & Education to families in New South Wales. This service is run by volunteers who have experienced PND or psychosis and recovered.
BabyBumps
Tel: 0402 488 435
http://www.babybumps.com.au
BabyBumps is a support group based in the Hornsby area, for mothers and families experiencing perinatal mood disorders. BabyBumps run twice weekly support group sessions, a weekly supported playgroup session, as well as other services, all of which are free of charge.
Alcoholics Anonymous
Web: http://www.aa.org.au
A fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. You can search this site to find a meeting in your local area.
CARE for Families
Tel: 02 9745 1529
Web: http://www.careemployment.org.au/Care%20for%20Families.html
CARE for Families provides counseling, advocacy, referrals, and support groups for people with a mental illness and their families, carers and friends.
This free program is located at Enfield and Rockdale.
Carers organisations
ARAFMI (NSW)
Tel: 02 9332 0700 – Sydney, Head Office (Information & Support line)
Tel: 02 9888 1819 – North Ryde
Tel: 02 4961 6717 – Hunter (Support Line)
Tel: 02 4369 4233 – Central Coast
Tel: 02 4254 1699 – Illawarra
Web: http://www.arafmi.org
This is an association for carers of people with a mental illness.
Carer's Association (NSW)
Tel: 02 9280 4744 | Free call: 1800 242 636
Emergency respite: 1800 052 222
Email: contact@carersnsw.asn.au
Web: http://www.carersnsw.asn.au
Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre
Free call: 1800 022 022 (National)
Web: http://www9.health.gov.au/ccsd/
Provides free and confidential iinformation on community aged care, disability and other support services available anywhere within Australia.
Mental Health community education courses
Mental Health First Aid
Web: http://www.mhfa.com.au
First aid courses focussing on mental health issues.
Psychologists
Free call: 1800 333 497 (Referral service)
Email: referral@psychology.org.au
Web: http://www.psychology.org.au/community
The Australian Psychological Society offers a referral service. They will provide the names of private psychologists in the NSW who offer the services you want (eg, cognitive behavioural therapy or interpersonal therapy for depression).
Emergency help
If you are feeling suicidal or need urgent help call one of the following:
Emergency - 000*
Lifeline - 13 11 14
Kids HelpLine - 1800 55 1800
* If you are using a mobile phone and 000 doesn't work, you can call 112 to access the Emergency Call Service. If you have a hearing or speech impairment and can access a TTY (teletypewriter), call 106 for the text-based Emergency Call Service.
The nearest hospital
They can arrange a crisis team to come or can advise where to get help in your area.
24-hour emergency phone numbers
| Northern Sydney / Central Coast | Northern Sydney: 1300 302 980 Central Coast: 02 4320 3500 |
| South Eastern Sydney / Illawarra | South Eastern Sydney: 1300 300 180 Illawarra: 1300 552 289 |
| Sydney South West | Central Sydney: 1800 636 825 South Western Sydney: 1300 787 799 |
| Sydney West | Western Sydney: 02 9840 3047 Wentworth: 1800 650 749 |
| Greater Southern | Western (fromer Greater Murray): 1800 800 944 Eastern (former Southern): 1800 677 114 |
| Greater Western | Central and Far West: 1800 011 511 |
| Hunter / New England | Hunter: 1800 655 085 New England: 1300 669 757 |
| North Coast | 1300 369 968 |
Salvo Crisis Line (suicide prevention)
Tel: 02 9331 2000