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Mental health crisis support

Warning:

If you, or someone you know, is having suicidal thoughts and is in immediate danger, call triple zero (000). For help and support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Key facts

  • A mental health crisis is when someone feels overwhelmed by emotions, stress, or trauma, which may lead to harmful thoughts or actions.
  • Support is available through public hospitals, emergency services, and national helplines such as Lifeline and Beyond Blue.
  • Public hospital services are usually free of charge, but private services may have costs that Medicare doesn't fully cover.
  • When you use these services, professionals will assess your needs and decide the best care for you.
  • Care may involve a stay in hospital or home support, with treatments such as medicines or therapy.

What is a mental health crisis?

A mental health crisis is a situation when someone feels overwhelmed by emotions, stress or trauma. This can lead to thoughts or actions that might be harmful to themselves or others. This can include:

A mental health crisis can be triggered by conditions such as:

In these situations, it's important to get immediate help to prevent harm to the person or others.

CHECK YOUR SYMPTOMS — Use the Symptom Checker and find out if you need to seek medical help.

How can I get help during a mental health crisis?

If you are worried you may harm yourself or someone else, or if someone you know is in immediate danger, call triple zero (000).

National crisis support numbers

There are several organisations that provide support for people and their families and carers:

State and territory crisis support numbers

Here's how you can get support across different states and territories in Australia:

Seeking help for a loved one

If you're seeking help for a loved one who is in a crisis, take them to the emergency department of your local hospital.

  • Call triple zero (000) if they are a danger to themselves or others.
  • If they refuse your help, you can contact the local Crisis Assessment and Treatment Team (CATT) through your closest public hospital (Opens in new tab). In some parts of Australia, this is called the Psychiatric Emergency Team (PET).
  • You can also contact one of the state or national mental health helplines for advice on steps to take.

CATT teams are made up of mental health professionals who will assess the situation and decide the best way to support the person in crisis. This could be a home visit or treatment in hospital.

When should I call an ambulance?

Warning:

If you, or someone you know, is having suicidal thoughts and is in immediate danger, call triple zero (000) or go to your nearest emergency department.

You should call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance immediately if someone is in danger of harming themselves or others.

Also seek help if a person shows severe symptoms such as:

  • extreme agitation
  • hallucinations or delusions
  • aggressive behaviour

Safety tips

The following tips can help to keep you and the other person safe if they are experiencing a mental health crisis:

  • Approach the person carefully, keep a safe distance and a clear exit path.
  • Never put yourself at risk. If possible, remove any items the person could use to harm themselves or others.
  • If the person has a weapon, call triple zero (000) and ask for the police.
  • Listen more than you talk. Speak calmly and avoid doing things that could upset them more.

What happens if I need to go to hospital?

Warning:

For advice and to connect to local mental health services, call Medicare Mental Health (Opens in new tab) on 1800 595 212. Check the operating times.

During a mental health crisis, you might need to go to hospital for treatment. Treatment may include medicines and therapy. You can ask to be admitted to the hospital if you need urgent help. In some situations, you may be hospitalised without your permission — this is called involuntary hospitalisation.

Laws about involuntary hospitalisation (Opens in new tab) vary by state. Generally, you can only be hospitalised without your permission if you meet all the following criteria:

  • you have a mental illness
  • you need treatment
  • you can't make decisions about your own care
  • you are considered a danger to your own safety or to someone else's safety

When you arrive at the hospital, doctors will assess your mental health and work with you to decide the best treatment plan.  

Preparing for an appointment? See our tips on questions to ask your doctor.

Are there costs involved?

The cost of mental health services can vary depending on the service you receive. Services at public hospitals and emergency departments are usually covered by Medicare. This means there are no costs if you have a Medicare number. If you choose private services, there may be costs that Medicare doesn't fully cover.

It's important to talk to your healthcare provider or insurance company to understand any costs you might need to pay.

FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.

Resources and support

Do you prefer to read in languages other than English?

Looking for information for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people?

Looking for information for sexually and gender-diverse families?

  • HERE (Opens in new tab) provides information on suicide and situational distress, and connects people of diverse genders and sexualities and their loved ones.

Last reviewed: August 2024

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