New South Wales
Help for depression
EMERGENCY HELP
Mental health services
Psychologists & mental health practitioners
Medications advice
Telephone counselling & helplines
University counselling services (for students)
Public service providers
Self help, resources, & consumer organisations
Carer organisations & services
Community courses
Support groups
Private service providers
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: 4th September, 2009.
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
Salvo Crisis Line – 8736 3295 (Sydney) or 1300 36 36 22 (regional)
* 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.
24-hour emergency phone numbers
See the NSW CRISIS numbers page for the emergency 24-hour contact number for the NSW Area Mental Health Service in your region.
Mental health services
General
The NSW Government provides public mental health services and programs through its Area Health Services.
Search the NSW Health Services directory at www.health.nsw.gov.au/services to locate your nearest mental health service. 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 (Mental Health Information Line)
Web: www.mentalhealth.asn.au
Contact this association for information on mental health concerns, telephone support, and referral services.
Black Dog Institute, Prince of Wales Hospital and University of New South Wales
Tel: 02 9382 4523 (Consumer enquiries)
Email: blackdog@unsw.edu.au
Web: 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.
Psychologists & mental health practitioners
The Australian Psychological Society referral service
Free call: 1800 333 497 (outside Melbourne)
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 the NSW 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
Tel: 1300 22 4636 (Info Line)
Web: www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?link_id=107.1007
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.
Medications advice
Psychotropic Drug Advisory Service
Tel: 03 9388 1633 (STD charges may apply)
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.
Telephone counselling & helplines
beyondblue Info Line
Tel: 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
Tel: 1800 55 1800 (24 hour service)
Web: 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
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.
Salvo Care Line
Tel: 02 8736 3292 (Sydney) or 1300 363 622 (regional) (24 hour service)
Calls are answered by trained counsellors. Provides counselling, information, and referral.
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 (not a counselling service).
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.
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
Tel: 1300 734 654 (Support Central)
Web: www.csu.edu.au/division/studserv/counsell/index.htm
Macquarie University
Tel: 02 9850 7497
Web: www.sss.mq.edu.au/counselling
University of New England
Tel: 02 6773 2897
Email: counselling.service@une.edu.au
Web: 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: 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: www.newcastle.edu.au/service/counselling
University of Notre Dame
Tel: 02 8204 4429 – Sydney campus
Email: sydneystudentlife@nd.edu.au
Web: www.nd.edu.au/sydney/current%20students/Counselling.shtml
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: www.scu.edu.au/services/supportservices/index.php/2
University of Sydney
Tel: 02 8627 8433 – Camperdown campus
Tel: 02 9351 9638 – Cumberland campus
Web: 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: 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 (Kingswood) campus
Email: counselling@uws.edu.au
Web: www.uws.edu.au/currentstudents/current_students/getting_help/counselling_services
University of Wollongong
Tel: 02 4221 3445
Email: StudentServices@uow.edu.au
Web: www.uow.edu.au/student/services/cs
Public service providers
The Rod Power Psychology Clinic, Macquarie University
Tel: 02 9850 8000
Email: Psychology.Clinic@psy.mq.edu.au
Web: www.psy.mq.edu.au/clinic.htm
The Rod Power Psychology Clinic at Macquarie University, offers specialised psychological services to the general community. The clinic is staffed by Interns who have completed their training in psychology and are undertaking post-graduate training in specialised areas to become Clinical Psychologists and Clinical Neuropsychologists. All Interns in the Clinic are supervised by qualified and experienced specialist psychologists.
UNE Psychology Clinic
Tel: 02 6773 2545
Web: www.une.edu.au/bcss/psychology/psycclinic.php
The clinic provides assessment and treatment for a range of psychological problems including depression and anxiety. The clinic is staffed by postgraduate clinical psychology students. The intern psychologists are supervised by experienced and clinically qualified academic staff from Psychology.
UNSW Clinical Psychology Unit
Tel: 02 9385 3042
Web: http://clinic.psy.unsw.edu.au
The Psychology Clinic offers affordable psychological services of a high standard for the general public, and is also actively involved in clinical research treatment trials that the general public may become involved in. The Psychology Clinic is staffed by psychologists enrolled in the Master of Psychology (Clinical) post-graduate programme at the University of New South Wales. The programme has an emphasis on cognitive-behavioural approaches to the understanding and management of psychological problems. Qualified academic staff and clinical psychologists supervise the clinical work of the psychologists in the Clinic.
University of Newcastle Psychology Clinic
Tel: 02 4921 5075
Email: psychology-clinic@newcastle.edu.au
Web: www.newcastle.edu.au/school/psychology/the-psychology-clinic.html
The Psychology Clinic offers assessments and a range of time-limited programs using specific cognitive-behavioural techniques targeted at particular client groups. The programs are carried out by staff and postgraduate students who are closely supervised.
USYD Psychology Clinic
Tel: 02 9351 2629
Web: www.psych.usyd.edu.au/clinic/index.shtml
The Clinic offers a broad range of clinical psychology services to the general community at low cost. Treatment and assessments are undertaken by Intern Clinical Psychologists under the supervision of highly experienced Clinical Psychologists and Clinical Neuropsychologists who are specialists in their area.
UWS Psychology Clinic
Tel: 02 9772 6686
Web: www.uws.edu.au/psychology/sop/psychology_clinics
The University of Western Sydney offers four clinics – the Psychology clinic, the OCD and Anxiety Disorder Clinic, the Child Assessment Clinic, and the Behavioural Medicine Clinic. These clinics offer specialised psychological services, which are provided by postgraduate interns enrolled in Masters Degrees of Clinical and Forensic Psychology. Interns operate in pairs and all services are provided under the supervision of the staff of the School of Psychology.
The University of Wollongong Psychology Clinic
Tel: 02 4221 3747
Email: helenko@uow.edu.au
Web: www.uow.edu.au/health/psyc/northfields/index.html
The University of Wollongong Psychology Clinic is part of the University's professional training program in Psychology. Postgraduate students working towards higher degrees (Masters, Doctorate and PhD) conduct these sessions under the supervision of experienced senior clinicians who are both registered clinical psychologists and academic staff of the University.
Self help, resource centres, & consumer organisations
Call the Mental Health Information Line on 1300 794 991 for support and referral to mental health services in NSW.
CARE for Families
Tel: 02 9745 1529
Web: www.careemployment.org.au/Care%20for%20Families.html
CARE for Families provides counselling, 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.
e-couch Personal Self Help
Web: www.ecouch.anu.edu.au
An interactive, evidence-based, self help program that includes modules for social anxiety and generalised anxiety, as well as depression. It provides self help interventions drawn from cognitive, behavioural and interpersonal therapies as well as relaxation and physical activity. e-couch is developed and delivered by the ANU Centre for Mental Health Research.
Headspace
Web: www.headspace.org.au
Provides information and assistance for young people experiencing mental health and/or substance issues and their families. Headspace sites are available in the Central Coast, Sydney CBD, Campbelltown, Mt Druitt, Central West, the Hunter, Riverina, Mid North Coast, and Illawarra.
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.
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.
Carer organisations & services
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: www.arafmi.org
This is an association for carers of people with a mental illness.
Carers NSW
Free call: 1800 242 636 (National Carer Advisory & Counselling Service)
Email: contact@carersnsw.asn.au
Web: www.carersnsw.asn.au
Offers carer information, suport, and counselling.
Commonwealth Respite & Carelink Centre
Free call: 1800 022 022 (National)
Emergency respite: 1800 059 059
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 in NSW, available at: www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/public/gettinghelp/supportgroups.cfm#NEW.
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.
BabyBumps
Tel: 0402 488 435
Web: 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.
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: 02 9633 1800 | Free call: 1800 558 268
Email: 1grownsw@grow.net.au
Web: www.grow.net.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.
Private service providers
The Lawson Clinic
Tel: 02 9418 4488
Web: www.lawsonclinic.com.au
The Lawson Clinic is a psychiatric clinic (located in Gordon, Sydney) specialising in the diagnosis 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.
The Hills Clinic
Tel: 02 9899 3618 (Castle Hill) or 02 9472 4700 (Hornsby)
Web: www.thehillsclinic.com.au
The Hills Clinic is a mental health clinic based in Castle Hill that services Baulkham Hills, Hornsby, Ku-ring-gai, Blacktown and Penrith local government areas as well as south and Central Coast regions. The team comprises of psychiatrists, psychologists, a dietician, social work, relationship therapist and a speech pathologist.