National Sources of Help & Information in Australia
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.
Kids Helpline
- Phone: 1800 55 1800 (24 hour service)
- Website: www.kidshelp.com.au
- Provides specialised help for young people, 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 789 978 (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.
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.
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).
RANZCP Find a Psychiatrist online search directory
The Australian Psychological Society referral service
- Phone: 03 8662 3300 (in Melbourne)
- Free call: 1800 333 497 (outside Melbourne)
- Email: referral@psychology.org.au
- Website: www.psychology.org.au/Find-a-Psychologist
- 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 Info Line & Directory of Mental Health Practitioners
- Phone: 1300 22 4636 (24 hour service)
- Website: www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/find-a-professional
- 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.
Your Health in Mind
- Website: www.yourhealthinmind.org
- The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists offers this website which includes a directory of psychiatrists working in private practice in Australia, fact sheets about mental illnesses, videos to help explain what it is like to visit a psychiatrist, and answers to frequently asked questions. All content has been written and reviewed by psychiatrists with expertise in each area, and consumers and carers have contributed their lived experience.
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.
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.
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.
Suicide Prevention Australia
- Website: suicidepreventionaust.org/
- SPA is a non-profit, non-government organisation working as a public health advocate in suicide prevention. The above web page 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.
Children of Parents with a Mental Illness (COPMI)
- Website: www.copmi.net.au
- Provides information for family members across Australia where a parent has a mental illness and for people who care for and work with them.
Headspace
- Website: www.headspace.org.au
- Provides information and assistance for young people experiencing mental health and/or substance issues and their families. Visit the website for Headspace locations in Australia. Open on weekdays.
Kids Helpline
- Phone: 1800 55 1800 (24 hour service)
- Website: www.kidshelp.com.au
- Provides specialised help for young people, and is staffed by professional counsellors. Daily web-counselling available (see website for current times) and email counselling (not for crisis).
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.
Reach Out!
- Website: au.reachout.com
- Provides information and resources for improving understanding of mental health issues and wellbeing for young people.
Students Against Depression
- Website: studentsagainstdepression.org/
- Addresses student issues such as leaving home, relationships, and managing study, provides suggestions for self-care and managing depression, and includes stories written by students on their experiences with depression.
Carers Australia
- Phone: 1800 242 636
- Website: www.carersaustralia.com.au
- Provides unpaid care and support to family members and friends who have a disability, mental illness, chronic condition, terminal illness or who are frail. Phone the above number for family carer support and counselling in your state or territory.
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.
LivingWorks Suicide Intervention Training
- Website: www.livingworks.com.au/
- LivingWorks is a Lifeline national service. It provides community training to equip people to help persons at risk of suicide keep safe and access further support.
Mental Health First Aid
- Website: www.mhfa.com.au
- Provides first aid courses focussing 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.
The Black Dog Institute maintains a list of organisations that run or coordinate mental health support groups around Australia: www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/resources-support/support-groups/.
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. You can search this site to find a meeting in your local area.
GROW
- Phone: 1800 558 268
- Website: www.grow.org.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. Visit the website to find a support group in your area.
