Tasmania
Help for depression
EMERGENCY HELP
Mental health services
Psychologists & mental health practitioners
Medications advice
Telephone counselling & helplines
University counselling services (for students)
Public services providers
Self help, resources, & consumer organisations
Carer organisations & services
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: 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
* 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.
Tasmanian Mental Health Services Helpline
Free call: 1800 332 388 (24 hour service)
The Tasmanian Mental Health Services Helpline is operated by mental health professionals who will give you advice and help to arrange mental health assessment and intervention for persons in need.
Mental health services
General
The Tasmanian Government provides free and confidential mental health services for children, adolescents, adults and older people. These services are staffed by community teams around the State.
For more information, please visit the Mental Health Services website at www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/mentalhealth/mental_health_services_in_tasmania. All services can be accessed by calling the Mental Health Services Helpline on 1800 322 388.
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 Tasmania 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 (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 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).
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 caller's local community.
Lifelink Samaritans Inc.
Tel: 03 6331 3355 (Launceston) or 1300 364 566 (statewide)
Email: lifelinksam@intas.net.au
Web: www.lifelinksamaritans.org.au
These helplines are open 24 hours a day and provide non-judgemental support and counselling.
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).
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 Tasmanian universities provide counselling services for their students. Some also provide counselling for their staff.
University of Tasmania
Tel: 03 6226 2697 or TTY: 6226 2587 – Hobart campus
Tel: 03 6324 3787 or TTY: 6324 3847 – Launceston campus
Tel: 03 6430 4949 – Cradle Coast campus
Web: http://services.admin.utas.edu.au/counselling
Australian Maritime College
Tel: 03 6335 4701 – Launceston (Mon-Wed)
Tel: 03 6335 4488 – Beauty Point (Thu-Fri)
Tel: Tel: 03 6324 3787 (Student Support)
Web: www.amc.edu.au/students/student.support
Public services providers
UTAS Psychology Clinic
Tel: 03 6226 2805
Web: http://fcms.its.utas.edu.au/scieng/psychol/cpage.asp?lcpageID=4
The University Psychology Clinic at the University of Tasmania offers psychological services to the community. The Clinic is staffed by a Clinic Director, who is a registered clinical psychologist, in conjunction with teaching staff in the clinical psychology training program. Psychology postgraduate students (Psychology Interns), working towards Masters and Doctoral degrees undertake supervised casework with staff in the Clinic.
Self help, resource centres, & consumer organisations
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 Northern Tasmania
Tel: 03 6336 4480
Email: headspace@gpnorth.com.au
Web: www.headspace.org/northerntasmania
Provides information and assistance for young people experiencing mental health and/or substance issues and their families.
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 Council of Tasmania
Tel: 03 6224 9222 | Free call: 1800 808 890
Web: www.mhct.org
A mental health advocacy group representing the interests of the community mental health sector consumer organisations, carer organisations and service provider organisations in Tasmania at a state and national level.
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 Tasmania (Association of Relatives and Friends of the Mentally Ill)
Tel: 03 6331 4486 – Head Office, Launceston
Tel: 03 6228 7448 – Moonah, Southern Office
Email: north@arafmitas.org.au or south@arafmitas.org.au
Web: www.arafmitas.org.au
A community group who have a close family member or friend with a mental illness. Provides support groups, information, referral services, and community awareness and advocacy.
Carers Tasmania
Tel: 03 6231 5507 | Free call: 1800 242 636 (National Carer Advisory & Counselling Service)
Web: www.carersaustralia.com.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 Tasmania, available at: www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/public/gettinghelp/supportgroups.cfm#TASMANIA.
The Tasmanian Department of Health and Human Services also maintains of list of mental health peer support groups available in the community: www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/mentalhealth/mental_health_services_in_tasmania/community_sector_services_funded_by_state_government/peer_support_groups
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: 03 6223 6284 | Free call: 1800 558 268
Email: tas@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.