National Sources of Help & Information
Please contact your General Practitioner or Primary Care Health Provider in the first instance.
Help for depression
Telephone counselling
Information, referral & advice
Help for young people
Help for carers
Community courses
Support groups
Disclaimer: 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. Although the BluePages team strives to keep the directory up to date, no guarantee is given about the relevance and accuracy of the directory listings provided. Directory last reviewed: 3rd September, 2009.
Telephone counselling
Kids Helpline
Tel: 1800 55 800 (24 hour service)
Web: 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
Tel: 13 11 14 (24 hour service)
Web: www.justlook.org.au
Volunteers with professional support, trained in responding to callers concerned about suicide. Provides general counselling and referrals to services in the caller's local community.
MensLine
Tel: 1300 789 978 (24 hour service)
Web: www.menslineaus.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
Tel: 1300 659 467
Web: www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au
The Suicide Call Back Service is a free nation-wide telephone support service for people at risk of suicide, their carers and people bereaved by suicide. It suports callers through a series of six 50-minute telephone counselling sessions, scheduled to suit the caller. Some after hours appointments are available.
Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service
Tel: 1800 011 046
Web: www.dva.gov.au/health_and_wellbeing/health_programs/vvcs/Pages/index.aspx
Run by the Vietnam Veterans Counselling Service (DVA) and diverts to Lifeline afterhours. For all veteran and currently serving defence force officers and those in personal relationship with them.
Information, referral and advice
The Australian Psychological Society referral service
Free call: 1800 333 497 (outside Melbourne) or 03 8662 3300 (Melbourne only)
Email: referral@psychology.org.au
Web: www.psychology.org.au/ReferralService/About
The Australian Psychological Society offers a referral service. They will provide the names of private psychologists in Australia 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
Tel: 1300 22 4636 (24 hour service)
Web: www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?link_id=107.1007
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.
JobAccess
Tel: 1800 464 800
Web: 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.
Psychotropic Drug Advisory Service
Tel: 03 9388 1633 (STD charges may apply for callers outside Victoria)
Email: enquiries@mhri.edu.au
Web: www.mhri.edu.au/psychotropic.htm
Provides advice to medical practitioners and the general public on choosing treatments, response, side effects of medications and interactions with other medications; as well as information on using medications by special groups such as children and adolescents, the elderly and women who are pregnant or breast feeding. The service can be contacted via email or by phoning the Mental Health Research Institute number given above and asking to be transferred to the Drug Advisory Service.
SANE Mental Illness Helpline
Tel: 1800 18 SANE (1800 18 7263)
Web: www.sane.org/helpline/helpline/helpline.html
Provides information and referral for callers concerned about mental illness anywhere in Australia.
Help for young people
CRUfAD schools
Web: www.climateschools.tv
Health education courses for school students, run by the Clinical Research Unit for Anxiety and Depression at St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney. Requires an annual subscription fee from registered schools.
Headspace
Web: 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
Tel: 1800 55 1800 (24 hour service)
Web: 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
Web: www.moodgym.anu.edu.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 is developed and delivered by the ANU Centre for Mental Health Research.
Reality Check
Web: http://realitycheck.net.au
Provides information and resources for mental health for young people.
Reach Out!
Web: http://au.reachout.com
Provides information and resources for improving understanding of mental health issues and wellbeing for young people.
Students Against Depression
Web: www.studentdepression.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.
Help for carers
Carers Australia
Tel: 1800 242 636
Web: 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 Respite & Carelink Centre
Tel: 1800 022 022 or 1800 059 059 (after hours emergency respite)
Web: www9.health.gov.au/ccsd
Provides free and confidential information on community aged care, disability and other support services available anywhere within Australia.
Mental health community education courses
LivingWorks Suicide Intervention Training
Web: www.lifeline.org/learn_more/livingworks
LivingWorks is a Lifeline national service. It provides community training to equip people to help persons at risk of suicide keep safe and acess further support.
Mental Health First Aid
Web: 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.
Support groups
The Black Dog Institute maintains a list of organisations that run or coordinate mental health support groups around Australia, available at: www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/public/gettinghelp/supportgroups.cfm.
Alcoholics Anonymous Australia
Web: 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.
BlueBoard Bulletin Board
Web: www.blueboard.anu.edu.au
An online support group for people affected by depression, bipolar disorder and anxiety disorders. It aims to reduce stigma, and to provide support, hope and opportunities for sharing successful coping strategies. The group is run as a moderated bulletin board with strict protocols to enhance safety and privacy. Forums for carers are also available. BlueBoard is developed and delivered by the ANU Centre for Mental Health Research.
GROW
Tel: 1800 558 268
Web: 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. Visit the website to find a support group in your area.