Queensland
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 — 3831 9016 (Brisbane) or 1300 36 36 22 (regional QLD)
* 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.
QLD Health helpline
Tel: 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84)
Call this number for general health information, referral, and teletriage services. This number is serviced 24 hours a day by qualified staff, who will give you advice on who to talk to and how quickly you should do it.
Mental health services
General
Government mental health services are available throughout Queensland, with mental health units usually based at hospitals.
To locate your nearest public mental health service, download the directory of mental health services in Queensland (PDF file) from: www.health.qld.gov.au/mentalhealth/service/find.asp.
QFinder – The Queensland directory of health and community services
Web: www.qfinder.qld.gov.au
The QFinder directory is compiled by the Queensland government and allows Queenslanders to search for public, private and non-government providers and health and community services in their area.
Psychologists & mental health practitioners
The Australian Psychological Society referral service
Free call: 1800 333 497 (Referral service)
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 Queensland who offer the services you want (eg, cognitive behavioural therapy or interpersonal therapy for depression). Alternatively, you can search by entering the name of your suburb (or town).
beyondblue Directory of Mental Health Practitioners
Tel: 1300 22 4636
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 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.
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).
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 caller's local community.
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).
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.
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).
Salvo Care Line
Tel: 1300 363 622 (24 hour service)
Calls are answered by trained counsellors. Provides counselling, information, and referral.
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 Queensland universities provide counselling services for their students. Some also provide counselling services for their staff.
Bond University
Tel: 07 5595 4002 (Student Services)
Web: www.bond.edu.au/student-resources/student-support/personal-support/index.htm
Central Queensland University
Tel: 13 CQUni (13 2786)
Web: http://facultysite.cqu.edu.au/FCWViewer/view.do?page=7730
Griffith University
Tel: 07 5552 8734 – Gold Coast campus
Tel: 07 3382 1159 – Logan campus
Tel: 07 3735 5669 – Mt Gravatt campus
Tel: 07 3735 7470 – South Bank campus
Email: counsellor@griffith.edu.au
Web: www.gu.edu.au/ua/aa/ss/counselling/home.html
James Cook University
Tel: 07 4781 4711 – Townsville campus
Tel: 07 4042 1150 – Cairns campus
Web: www.jcu.edu.au/student/counselling/index.htm
University of Queensland
Tel: 07 5460 1046 – Gatton campus
Tel: 07 3381 1011 – Ipswich campus
Tel: 07 3365 1704 – St Lucia campus
Web: www.uq.edu.au/student-services/index.html?page=1194
University of Southern Queensland
Tel: 07 4631 2372 – Toowoomba campus
Tel: 07 4120 6133 – Fraser Coast campus
Tel: 07 3470 4400 – Springfield campus
Web: www.usq.edu.au/studentservices/counselling/default.htm
University of the Sunshine Coast
Tel: 07 5430 1226 (Student Services)
Web: www.usc.edu.au/Students/Future/StudentSupport/CounsellingService
Queensland University of Technology
Tel: 07 3138 2383 – Gardens Point campus
Tel: 07 3138 3488 – Kelvin Grove campus
Web: www.counselling.qut.edu.au
Public service providers
Bond University Psychology Clinic
Tel: 07 5595 2527
Email: psych_clinic@bond.edu.au
Web: www.bond.edu.au/life-at-bond/facilities-services/psychology-clinic/index.htm
The Bond University Psychology Clinic offers psychological services to the Gold Coast community. It is staffed by psychologist interns under supervision of highly qualified and experienced staff who are usually memebers of the Australian Psychological Society Colleges of Clinical or Forensic Psychologists.
Griffith University Psychology Clinic
Tel: 07 5552 8556 (Gold Coast) or 07 3735 3301 (Mt Gravatt)
Web: www.griffith.edu.au/health/school-psychology/clinics
The Psychology Clinics are a Community Psychological Service, and are operated by the School of Psychology. The Psychology Clinics have been specifically designed to be used for therapy, teaching of small groups, and supervision of psychology students who are training to be clinical psychologists. These trainee psychologists carry out most of the direct therapy work under the close supervision of the clinical psychology staff in the School of Psychology.
James Cook University Psychology Clinic
Tel: 07 4781 4706
Email: psychclinic@jcu.edu.au
Web: www.jcu.edu.au/sass/psychology/clinic
The Clinic offers specialised clinical services across the lifespan to the community of North Queensland, and incorporates a specialised Memory Clinic for the assessment and diagnosis of memory difficulties and dementia. It is staffed by registered psychologists who are undergoing advanced training in the Master or Doctor of Psychology (Clinical, Geropsychology, Forensic). Psychologists who work in the clinic are supervised by highly qualified and experienced clinical staff.
UQ Psychology Clinic
Tel: 07 3365 6451
Web: www.clinic.psy.uq.edu.au
The Psychology Clinic provides psychological services to the community. Sessions may be conducted by postgraduate students in clinical psychology under supervision.
USQ Psychology Clinic
Tel: 07 4631 1763
Web: www.usq.edu.au/sciences/psychology/clinic
The clinic offers services in a variety of areas including psychotherapy, consultation and assessment for both individuals and groups. These services are provided by professionally registered postgraduate students who are undertaking advanced study in psychology at the University of Southern Queensland. All services are provided under the supervision of staff who are registered psychologists and who have considerable professional experience.
USC Psychology Clinic
Tel: 07 5459 4514
Email: psychology@usc.edu.au
Web: www.usc.edu.au/University/AbouttheUniversity/Campus/HealthSports/PsychologyClinic
The Psychology Clinic provides mental health services to the community. All clinical work undertaken by Intern Psychologists in the Psychology Clinic is supervised by highly qualified and experienced staff who are registered with the Psychologists Board of Queensland and are members (or eligible for membership) of the Australian Psychological Society College of Clinical Psychologists.
QUT Health Clinics – Psychology and Counselling
Tel: 07 318 9777
Email: healthclinics@qut.edu.au
Web: www.healthclinics.qut.edu.au/services/psychologyc.jsp
QUT Health Clinics - Psychology and Counselling provides affordable, professional Psychology, Family Therapy and Counselling services for children and adults, the general public and staff and students of QUT. Therapists are QUT postgraduate students in Clinical Psychology and Educational and Developmental psychology and have provisional registration as psychologists. They are supervised by experienced, qualified psychologists.
Self help, resources, & consumer organisations
Search QFinder for mental health community services by typing in "mental health" and your town or postcode at www.qfinder.qld.gov.au.
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 Fraser Coast, Gold Coast, Southern Downs, and Townsville.
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.
Mental Health Association (Qld) Inc.
Tel: 1300 729 686
Email: association@mentalhealth.org.au
Web: www.mentalhealth.org.au
Provides a wide range of services including telephone and email information and referral, individual advocacy, back-to-work projects and library resources.
Mental Health Association on the Gold Coast
Tel: 07 5591 5820
Email: goldcoast@mentalhealth.org.au
Information and referral service. The Association hosts a range of support groups, monthly guest speakers and a consumer-information library.
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 Queensland Inc.
Tel: 07 3254 1881 (Brisbane) | Free call: 1800 35 1881 (Outside Brisbane area)
Web: www.arafmiqld.org
An association for carers of people with a mental illness. ARAFMI (QLD) provides a 24-hour telephone support line service.
Carers Queensland
Tel: 07 3900 8100 | Free call: 1800 242 636 (National Carer Advisory & Counselling Service)
Web: www.carersqld.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 Queensland, available at: www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/public/gettinghelp/supportgroups.cfm#QUEENSLAND.
Alternatively, search QFinder by typing in "mental health" and your town or postcode at www.qfinder.qld.gov.au, and click on "Self Help and Support Groups" in the displayed results.
You can also contact Self Help Queensland Inc on 07 3344 6919 or by email at selfhelp@gil.com.au for information and referral to self help and support groups available in Queensland.
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.
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: 07 3394 4344 | Free call: 1800 558 268
Email: qld@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.
HAND UP
Tel: 07 4779 2203 (John) or 07 4725 5755 (Fred or Carol)
Email: karen@handup.org.au
Web: www.handup.org.au
A self help support group for people dealing with mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. HAND UP is a group of people in Townsville, who have experienced depression, anxiety and other mental illnesses who come together to share their experiences, and by doing so find and offer understanding, acceptance and friendship.
Private service providers
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Unit, Belmont Private Hospital
Tel: 1800 700 274 24 (Admission & Assessment enquiries) | 07 3398 0111 (general enquiries)
Web: www.belmontprivate.com.au
The hospital in Carina provides a CBT program for mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety. An inpatient/day patient program is available, as well as an evening program combining group and individual therapy. A referral from a psychiatrist is required.
Pine Rivers Private Hospital
Tel: 07 3881 7222
Web: www.healthscopehospitals.com.au/info/general/HospitalHome/get/41/hospitalId
The hospital in Brisbane North offers a CBT based program for a range of mental health disorders, such as depression and anxiety. Treatment is provided on an inpatient or day patient basis. Requires referral from a Psychiatrist or GP.
Toowong Private Psychiatric Hospital
Tel: 07 3721 8055 (Day Programs Reception)
Web: www.toowongprivatehospital.com.au
The hospital offers a CBT program for anxiety and stress for day or inpatients. Requires referral from a psychiatrist. Phone the Doctor Assist helpline on 1300 131 243 for assistance in locating a psychiatrist.