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Mental health: where to get help
Free counselling and mental health support
Beyond Blue’s Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Service is providing free counselling during the COVID-19 pandemic. Call 1800 512 348 to speak with a trained mental health professional (24 hours 7 days a week) or chat online at coronavirus.beyondblue.org.au.
Learn more about COVID-19 and managing your mental health here.
Free counselling for individuals, families and emergency personnel affected by the bushfire crisis is also available under a new government mental health support program.
Do you or someone you know have mental health problems? Not sure where to go for help?
The pages listed below offer guidance on different types of mental health professionals and services, how to access them and the possible associated costs.
If you need urgent help, please call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance.
Are you having a tough time and need to talk to someone right now? Find information about helplines and services that are available throughout Australia.
You can also visit Head to Health, an online gateway funded by the Australian Government that can help you find free and low-cost, trusted phone and online mental health resources.
Australian mental health services
It can be difficult to understand how the complex mental health system in Australia operates. Learn how you can access the care you need.
Community mental health services
Community mental health services are for people with severe types of mental illnesses. Learn about your local community mental health services.
Low cost or free mental health services
Depending upon your personal circumstances, you may be eligible for a Medicare rebate on Government programs to assist with your treatment.
Mental health helplines
Information about key groups that can help with mental health problems, including healthdirect partners and leading Australian health organisations.
Mental health services by state and territory
State and territory governments offer hospital, emergency and community mental health services. Learn about services available in your region.
Mental Health Treatment Plan
A Mental Health Treatment Plan is a plan for people with a mental health disorder created by your doctor, outlining the goals for your treatment.
Paying for mental health services
Mental health costs vary depending on where you are and what service you are provided. Learn more about the services and what the costs might be.
Need more information?
These trusted information partners have more on this topic.
Top results
Mental Health Services | SA Health
Mental health services in South Australia. A directory of where to get mental health help: crisis, counselling, support, advocacy and complaint services.
Read more on SA Health website
Hospital mental health services - NT.GOV.AU
Top End and Central Australia mental health hospital services.
Read more on NT Health website
Welcome to Statewide Mental Health Services | Mental Health
Statewide Mental Health Services is a key clinical service stream of the Tasmanian Health Service
Read more on Tasmanian Department of Health and Human Services website
Choosing teenage mental health services | Raising Children Network
If you’re choosing teenage mental health services for your child, it’s vital to look for services that suit your child’s and family’s needs. Here’s how.
Read more on raisingchildren.net.au website
Tips for choosing a digital mental health service – Information for consumers and carers | Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care
Tips for choosing a digital mental health service – Information for consumers and carers Downloads Tips for choosing a digital mental health service – Information for consumers and carers Publication year 2020 Resource type Fact sheet or brochure Topics e-Health (digital health) Mental health
Read more on Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care website
Community based mental health services - NT.GOV.AU
Non-government mental health support organisations and services for individuals and carers in the Northern Territory.
Read more on NT Health website
Mental health in remote communities - NT.GOV.AU
Top End and Central Australia remote mental health services.
Read more on NT Health website
Food and Nutrition Information for Consumers | Agency for Clinical Innovation
Factsheets for patients and carers, in english and community languages about meals in hospitals and inpatient mental health services.
Read more on ACI - Agency for Clinical Innovation website
Support for culturally and linguistically diverse people | Head to Health
An informative resource for finding mental health services and support for anyone from another culture or who speaks another language.
Read more on Head to Health website
Better access to mental health care: fact sheet for patients
Information about Medicare rebates available to patients for selected mental health services provided by GPs, psychiatrists, psychologists and eligible social workers and occupational therapists.
Read more on Department of Health website
Top results
Community mental health services
Advice for workers in the community mental health services, about how they can support parents and children when a parent experiences mental illness.
Read more on COPMI – Children of Parents with a Mental Illness website
Minimising Restrictive Practices: Seclusion | Ausmed
Seclusion is a behavioural intervention used by mental health services, wherein a client is confined in a room alone and prevented from freely exiting. It is used as a last resort intervention in the event of a behavioural emergency and must only be used if there are no other appropriate options.
Read more on Ausmed Education website
Mental Health Treatment Plan | Ausmed
A Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) is a support plan for someone experiencing mental health issues. A general practitioner (GP) will assess if a person has signs of mental illness and whether they would benefit from mental health treatment (6 sessions are subsidised by Medicare).
Read more on Ausmed Education website
Young people - QLife guide tip sheet
Social conditions for the acceptance of LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex) people have improved dramatically in Australia in recent years.
Read more on QLife website
Online Environments - a QLife guide for health professionals
The emergence of the internet as a major part of daily life is swiftly changing avenues of social connection, access to information, doing business and accessing health care services.
Read more on QLife website
RURAL AND REGIONAL - A QLIFE GUIDE FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
People who live in nonurban areas of Australia who are also lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) face some unique factors in social connection, accessing services and maintaining health and wellbeing.
Read more on QLife website
How to join referral database for Health Professionals
Seeking trauma-informed mental health practitioners - counsellors, psychologists, psychotherapists - to join referral database for Blue Knot Helpline.
Read more on Blue Knot Foundation website
Assessing clients, establishing treatment plan
Different modalities of therapy (group, couples, family & individual), assessment methods and treatment plans for trauma therapy can be used for survivors.
Read more on Blue Knot Foundation website
Why COPMI?
This page explains the rationale behind the COPMI national initiative and why it's so important to focus on the needs of children who have parents experiencing mental illness. It includes relevant facts about the risks to these children and discusses the critical role of professionals in working toward better outcomes for COPMI.
Read more on COPMI – Children of Parents with a Mental Illness website
Suicide prevention - a QLife guide for health professionals
Despite significant social change and increased inclusion, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people have a far greater risk of suicide than the national population average.
Read more on QLife website
