Australian Capital Territory
This directory is designed for information purposes only. The BluePages team is not responsible for, and does not necessarily endorse or recommend the practitioners and services listed here (see Disclaimer). Although we strive to keep the directory up to date, no guarantee is given about the relevance and accuracy of the directory listings provided.
Directory last reviewed: 16 June 2020
Please contact your General Practitioner or Primary Care Health Provider in the first instance.
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
- Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467
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.
Mental Health Triage Service / Crisis Assessment and Treatment Team
- Phone: (02) 6205 1065 or 1800 629 354 (24 hour service)
- The Mental Health Triage Service can connect you to the mental health service in the ACT that is most suitable for you (eg, crisis service, different regional mental health services, child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS), older persons mental health service).
The ACT government provides free community-based mental health services and inpatient psychiatric services at Canberra and Calvary Hospitals for urgent care.
For more information, go to: health.act.gov.au/services/mental-health
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Triage (CAMHS)
- Phone: (02) 6205 1971
- For people up to the age of 18 years – assists with emotional, behavioural, psychiatric concerns.
Lifeline Service Finder
- Website: lifeline.serviceseeker.com.au/
- The Lifeline Service Finder is a directory of free or low cost health and community services available in Australia. It includes accommodation, domestic violence, family and children's services, financial assistance and mental health services.
Living Is For Everyone
- Website: www.livingisforeveryone.com.au
- The Commonwealth government's Living Is For Everyone (LIFE) website is a world-class suicide and self-harm prevention resource. Dedicated to providing the best available evidence and resources to guide activities aimed at reducing the rate at which people take their lives in Australia, the LIFE website is designed for people across the community who are involved in suicide and self-harm prevention activities.
The Australian Clinical Psychology Association locator
- Website: www.acpa.org.au/find-a-clinical-psychologist/index.php
- The Australian Clinical Psychology Association offers an online search tool to help you find a local Clinical Psychologist who offers the services you want (e.g., cognitive behavioural therapy or interpersonal therapy for depression).
The Australian Psychological Society referral service
- Free call: 1800 333 497 (outside Melbourne)
- Email: referral@psychology.org.au
- Website: www.psychology.org.au/FindaPsychologist/Default.aspx?#About
- The Australian Psychological Society offers a referral service. They will provide the names of private psychologists in the ACT who offer the services you want (eg, cognitive behavioural therapy or interpersonal therapy for depression). Alternatively, use the online search on the website to find a practitioner in your area.
beyondblue Directory of Mental Health Practitioners
- Phone: 1300 22 4636 (Info Line)
- Website: www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/find-a-professional
- For the cost of a local call, the beyondblue info line provides callers with access to information and referral to relevant services for depression and anxiety related matters. Visit the above website to find the relevant Mental Health Practitioner in your area.
beyondblue Info Line
- Phone: 1300 22 4636 (24 hour service)
- For the cost of a local call, the beyondblue info line provides callers with access to information and referral to relevant services for depression and anxiety related matters (not a counselling service).
Kids Helpline
- Phone: 1800 55 1800 (24 hour service)
- Website: www.kidshelp.com.au
- Provides specialised help for young people aged 5 to 25 years, and is staffed by professional counsellors. Daily web-counselling available (see website for current times) and email counselling (not for crisis).
Lifeline
- Phone: 13 11 14 (24 hour service)
- Website: www.lifeline.org.au
- Volunteers with professional support, trained in responding to callers concerned about suicide. Provides general counselling and referrals to services in caller's local community. Calls to Lifeline from a landline are usually the cost of a local call, and calls from mobile phones are free of charge.
MensLine
- Phone: 1300 78 99 78 (24 hour service)
- Website: www.mensline.org.au/
- Provided by professional staff. The website also includes moderated forums with specific spaces for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, Vietnamese and Arabic men, rural men, partners/children.
PANDA. Post and Antenatal Depression Association Inc
- Phone: 1300 726 306
- Email: info@panda.org.au
- Website: www.panda.org.au
- Provides support and information to women and families affected by post and antenatal depression.
SANE Mental Illness Helpline
- Phone: 1800 18 SANE (1800 18 7263)
- Website: www.sane.org/get-help
- Provides information and referral for callers concerned about mental illness anywhere in Australia (not a counselling service).
Suicide Call Back Service
- Phone: 1300 659 467 (24 hour service)
- Website: www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au
- The Suicide Call Back Service provides crisis counselling to people at risk of suicide, carers for someone who is suicidal and those bereaved by suicide, 24 hours per day 7 days a week across Australia. People who are not linked in with current professional support can also access up to six sessions of ongoing counselling with the same counsellor at times scheduled to suit you.
Open Arms - Veterans and Family Counselling
- Phone: 1800 011 046
- Website: www.openarms.gov.au
- Open Arms provides counselling and group programs to Australian veterans and peacekeepers and their families and is run by qualified psychologists or social workers. Visit the website for more information about mental health and online resources.
Parentline ACT
- Phone: (02) 6287 3833
- Website: www.parentlineact.org.au
- Provides support to any person involved in the care of children and for any family issues. Initial phone contact is with professional counsellors. Can provide phone counselling and referral and arrange follow-up within their service including some face to face counselling and phone support through trained volunteers. Some after hours appointments are available.
The Australian National University (ANU) Counselling service
The University of Canberra (UC) Health and Counselling Centre
The Australian National University Psychology Clinic
Beacon
- Website: beacon.anu.edu.au
- Provides consumers and professionals with information about e-health online applications for mental health and physical health disorders. Websites throughout the world are reviewed and ranked by a panel of health experts. Consumers can also submit rankings and comments. Beacon is developed and delivered by the ANU Centre for Mental Health Research.
e-couch Personal Self Help
- Website: ecouch.anu.edu.au
- An interactive, evidence-based, self help program that includes modules for depression, social anxiety and generalised anxiety, divorce and relationship breakdown, and bereavement and loss. It provides self help interventions drawn from cognitive, behavioural and interpersonal therapies as well as relaxation and physical activity. e-couch was developed by researchers at the Australian National University.
JobAccess
- Phone: 1800 464 800
- Website: www.jobaccess.gov.au
- Provides advice on matters relating to the employment of people with a disability, including those with mental health conditions. The website includes information on practical workplace solutions to overcome barriers in the workplace as well as access to the Australian Government funding via the Workplace Modification Scheme.
Mind
- Phone: 1300 554 660 (Carer Helpline)
- Phone: 1300 286 463 (1300 AT MIND) (Service information and referral)
- Website: www.mindaustralia.org.au/
- Mind provides support to people who are living with a mental illness.
moodgym Training Program
- Website: moodgym.com.au
- An interactive, evidence-based program for depression which incorporates cognitive behavioural therapy. Research has found moodgym to be helpful in reducing symptoms of depression in users (See Online prevention). moodgym was developed by researchers at the Australian National University.
Suicide Prevention Australia
- Website: suicidepreventionaust.org
- SPA is a non-profit, non-government organisation working as a public health advocate in suicide prevention. The website provides information and resources for people who are feeling suicidal, helping someone at risk of suicide, people moving forward after a suicide attempt, and bereavement support for people who have lost a loved one to suicide. SPA has also produced a DVD to help men living in rural Australia.
ACT Mental Health Consumer Network Inc
- Phone: (02) 6230 5796
- Website: www.actmhcn.org.au
- The ACT Mental Health Consumer Network Inc advises and trains both Government and non-government agencies to improve delivery of mental health services.
EveryMan
- Phone: (02) 6230 6999
- Website: www.everyman.org.au/
- Provides an information and referral service free of charge for men living in the Canberra region. It also runs men's groups and provides other forms of practical assistance.
Catholic Care: Canberra & Goulburn
- Website: www.catholiccare.cg.org.au
- Provides mental health programs including family respite, outreach, and support for young people with mental illness.
Headspace ACT
Mental Health Community Education (ACT Health)
- Phone: (02) 6205 1178
- ACT Health provides education programs for consumers, health professionals, and the broader community to improve understanding of mental health and illness. Ring the above number to contact the Community Education and Development Officer.
Mental Health Foundation ACT Inc
- Phone: (02) 6282 6658
- Website: www.mhf.org.au/
- Provides information and a referral service, and hosts support groups, workshops, and outreach support programs. Activities of the Foundation include the Skills for Life Program, which provides assistance for those with depression and/or anxiety conditions.
Commonwealth Carer Gateway
- Website: www.carergateway.gov.au/
- Provides phone counselling, coaching, and free and confidential information about respite and support services available anywhere within Australia.
Carers ACT
- Carer Support Services, including respite - Phone: 1800 052 222
- Website: www.carersact.org.au/
- Offers counselling, resources, respite.
Catholic Care: Canberra & Goulburn
- Phone: (02) 6295 4300
- Website: www.catholiccare.cg.org.au
- Runs the Flexible Family Respite Program providing short term, emergency, one-off and some long term respite in a way that meets family needs.
Mental Health First Aid
- Website: www.mhfa.com.au
- Provides first aid courses focusing on mental health issues, including depression and suicide intervention training. Visit the website for first aid strategies for helping someone going through a mental health crisis.
LifeForce Suicide Prevention Program
Mental Illness Education ACT
OzHelp Community Services (Formerly VYNE @ OzHelp)
The Black Dog Institute maintains a list of organisations that run or coordinate mental health support groups in the ACT, available at: www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/resources-support/support-groups/
Alternatively, search the ACT community directory at vc-act.mycommunitydirectory.com.au/
You can also contact SHOUT (Self Help Organisations United Together) on (02) 6290 1984 for information and referral to self help and support groups available in the ACT. For more information, visit their website at www.shout.org.au
Connections program, Volunteering ACT
- Phone: 02 6251 4060
- Website: vc-act.org.au/connections/
- The Connections program is a one-to-one social support program for people with a mental illness. The program sets up safe and supportive structured friendships with screened and trained volunteers, enabling a pair to reconnect with the broader community.
Parents Beyond Breakup
GROW
- Free call: 1800 558 268
- Email: act@grow.org.au
- Website: www.grow.org.au
- 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.
The Able Group (TAG)
- Phone: 02 6182 7096
- Website: www.theablegroup.com.au/
- TAG holds multiple groups and activities to encourage people to engage with others in a friendly and welcoming environment. TAG is part of the Able Community Services program and work together to create a solid network of support
Perinatal Wellbeing Centre
- Phone: 02 6288 1936
- Website: www.perinatalwellbeingcentre.org.au/
- Support groups, telephone support and information for during pregnancy or up until your youngest child has turned 2.
Alcoholics Anonymous Australia
- Website: 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.
