Recommended mental health websites
Urgent care: If life is at risk please call Triple Zero (000) or lifeline 13 11 14 or go to the emergency department of your local hospital to receive immediate help.
CONTACT YOUR LOCAL HOSPITAL FIRST TO CHECK IF THEY HAVE A DEDICATED MENTAL HEALTH WARD
There are also numerous private facilities available through out Sydney and Australia.
Beyondblue
Aims to increase awareness of depression and anxiety and reduce stigma. Call 1300 22 4636, 24 hours/7 days a week, chat online or email.
beyondblue’s youth program aims to empower young people, their friends and those who care for them to respond to depression and anxiety.
Ages 12-25 years.
Website: youthbeyondblue.com
Blue Knot Foundation Helpline
The National Centre of Excellence for Complex Trauma. It provides support, education and resources for the families and communities of adult survivors of childhood trauma and abuse.
Call 1300 657 380, Monday – Sunday between 9am – 5pm AEST or via email helpline@blueknot.org.au.
Website: blueknot.org.au
Butterfly Foundation
Online, email and phone support for Australians living with eating disorders and body image and related disorders for family and friends.
Ages 14+
Phone support available Mon-Fri 8am-9pm AEST
Website: thebutterflyfoundation.org.au
Butterfly Foundation’s National Helpline
A free, confidential service that provides information, counselling, and treatment referral for people with eating disorders and body image and related issues. Call 1800 33 4673, 8am-midnight AEST / 7 days a week, chat online or email.
Children of Parents with a Mental Illness (COPMI)
Stories and information for young people whose parents have a mental illness.
Ages 10-18 years.
Website: copmi.net.au/kids-young-people
Community Mental Health Teams
Publicly run Community Mental Health Teams are based at Parramatta, Merrylands, Auburn, Dundas, the Hills, and Blacktown.
Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and (Specialist Mental Health Services for Older People) SMHSOP teams also work in the community. SMHSOP is available based in Merrylands and Blacktown. SMHSOP provides a range of acute, and community based mental health services for people aged 65+ years, including community based and in-patient clinical services, rehabilitation and recovery services, and mental health promotion.
If you are concerned about mental health issues, please telephone 1800 011 511 to discuss a referral for psychiatric assessment.
Headspace
Headspace works with young people to provide support at a crucial time in their lives – to help get them back on track and strengthen their ability to manage their mental health in the future.
Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services are available in the Headspace Centres in Parramatta and Mt Druitt. Headspace Centres help young people deal with mental health problems and to complete education, seek work and socialise appropriately.
Ages 12-25 years
Website: headspace.org.au
eheadspace
provides free online and telephone support and counselling to young people 12 – 25 and their families and friends. Call 1800 650 890, 9am – 1am AEST / 7 days a week, chat online or email.
Website: eheadspace
FriendLine
Supports anyone who’s feeling lonely, needs to reconnect or just wants a chat. You can call them 7 days a week on 1800 424 287, or chat online with one of their trained volunteers. Visit friendline.org.au
All conversations with FriendLine are anonymous.
Website: FriendLine
Head to Health
Online portal for mental health information, with information from a wide range of online services.
All ages.
Website: headtohealth.gov.au
Kids Helpline
Australia’s only free 24/7 confidential and private counselling service specifically for children and young people aged 5 – 25. Call 1800 55 1800.
Website: kidshelpline.com.au
Lifeline
provides 24-hour crisis counselling, support groups and suicide prevention services. Call 13 11 14, text on 0477 13 11 14 (12pm to midnight AEST) or chat online.
Website: www.lifeline.org.au
MensLine Australia
A professional telephone and online counselling service offering support to men. Call 1300 78 99 78, 24 hours/7 days a week, chat online or organise a video chat.
Website: mensline.org.au
MindSpot
Free telephone and online service for people with anxiety, stress, low mood or depression. It provides online assessment and treatment for anxiety and depression. MindSpot is not an emergency or instant response service. Call 1800 61 44 34.
Website: mindspot.org.au
NSW Mental Health help line
The Mental Health Line offers professional help and advice, referrals to local mental health services.
It is staffed by mental health professionals who will ask questions to determine if you or, the person you are concerned about, needs ongoing mental health care and how urgently it is needed.
They can put you in contact with the most relevant mental health service for children, teens, adults, and older people.
The Mental Health Line is available to everyone in NSW and operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call 1800 011 511.
Open Arms — Veterans and Families Counselling
Provides 24/7 free and confidential counselling to anyone who has served at least one day in the ADF, their partners and families. Call 1800 011 046.
PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia)
Supports women, men and families across Australia affected by anxiety and depression during pregnancy and in the first year of parenthood. Call 1300 726 306, 9am – 7:30pm AEST (Mon-Fri).
Website: panda.org.au
QLife
Provides nationwide telephone and web-based services for lesbian peer support and referral for people wanting to talk about a range of issues including sexuality, identity, gender, bodies, feelings or relationships. Call 1800 184 527, 3pm – 12am (midnight) AEST/7 days a week.
Website: qlife.org.au
ReachOut.com
Australia’s leading youth mental health and wellbeing website, with fact sheets, stories, forums and apps to help young people understand and manage their mental health.
Ages 14-25 years.
Website: au.reachout.com
Guide: schools.au.reachout.com/articles/what-is-reachout
SANE Australia
Provides support to anyone in Australia affected by complex mental health issues, as well as their friends, family members and health professionals. Call 1800 18 7263, 10am – 10pm AEST (Mon – Fri), or chat online.
Website: sane.org
Suicide Call Back Service
Provides 24/7 support if you or someone you know is feeling suicidal. Call 1300 659 467.
Website: suicidecallbackservice.org.au
WentWest primary Health care Network
Provides a range of services to Western Sydney population. Find out more information visit https://wentwest.com.au/community/services-and-programs/mental-health/
- Facilitate access to psychiatrists for disadvantaged community through GP referrals. Ask your GP for a referral to Wentwest.
- Mental health education programs to people living with mental health conditions, as well as carers, families, friends, workers or volunteers in the mental health and community sector.
- Drug and alcohol services
