Mental health support and information resources.
For urgent support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 for confidential 24/7 counselling and referrals.
Please note that Phoenix Australia does not provide direct clinical care or referral recommendations.
Are you looking for mental health care covered by Medicare? Please check your eligibility for a mental health care plan.
Are you looking for a mental health professional? Please use the following registers to search for a suitable professional:
If you or a client are interested in accessing inpatient treatment for trauma recovery, please check the list of Trauma Recovery Programs in each state.
Interested in learning about the most up-to-date evidence-based guidelines regarding trauma treatment and recovery? Please read the Australian PTSD Guidelines.
Find resources by topic below:
Alcohol and other drugs
- The Australian Drug Information Network (ADIN) has comprehensive information and a list of resources available across Australia.
- The Right Mix: Your Health and Alcohol website has simple information about standard drinks, facts about alcohol and medication, as well as sleep and health conditions for veterans and their families. Veterans can assess their drinking on the website, find out how to start making changes and where to go for help if they are concerned about their drinking. The site includes resources for practitioners and veterans.
Asylum seekers, refugees or migrants who have experienced torture or trauma
The Forum of Australian Services for Survivors of Torture and Trauma (FASST) has a list of agencies across Australia that provide support, advocacy and treatment.
Carers
Carers Australia offers information, resources and access to support groups. Or call 1800 242 636.
Children and young people
- Kids Helpline offers web-based, email, or telephone counselling for children and young people aged 5 to 25 years. Or call 1800 55 1800.
- ReachOut has information and downloadable apps on a range of mental health and related issues that affect teenagers and young adults.
- Headspace, the National Youth Mental Health Foundation, has information on trauma and mental health, where to get help, and online support.
- The Children of Parents with a Mental Illness (COMPI) resource centre provides information, resources and access to services.
Depression and anxiety
Several organisations offer access to information, resources and services, including:
Disasters
The Red Cross has information, advice, and resources for kids, teenagers, teachers, and parents. Visit aftertheemergency.redcross.org.au.
Other helpful web resources include:
- National Child Traumatic Stress Network: Natural Disasters
- Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, Uniformed Services University, Health Sciences: Disaster Response and Recovery Fact Sheets
- National Center for PTSD Natural Disaster Fact Sheets
- International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies: Disasters Resources
Domestic violence
- National sexual assault, domestic family violence counselling service can provide the names and contact details of agencies and support groups throughout Australia. Visit www.1800respect.org.au.
- Immigrant women’s domestic violence services: there are several services in each state and territory. Visit http://www.dvrcv.org.au/talk-someone/services-other-states or www.speakout.org.au for a list of services throughout Australia.
Mental health and wellbeing
This government website lists key websites that are available to help you access more information about mental health issues and services:
http://www.australia.gov.au/topics/health-and-safety/mental-health
Mental health professionals
The Australian Psychological Society (APS) maintains a register of psychologists, listing their specialities. Call 1800 333 497 or search the list on their website.
The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) is the national body overseeing the registration of psychologists.
For a register of accredited mental health social workers, visit the Australian Association of Social Workers.
Military personnel
- ADF all hours support line 1800 628 036.
- Defence Health Service
- Defence Directorate of Mental Health (DMH) has information and links to emergency services, support lines, programs and policies.
- Defence Force Community Organisation (DCO) provides social services to Defence members and their families Australia wide.
- Defence family helpline provides support, information and connection with your community, including local DCO teams. Call 1800 624 608.
Parents
- Parentline provides telephone counselling to parents and carers of children aged 0 to 18 years. Visit parentline.com.au for Parentline services across Australia or call 13 22 89.
- Information on how to talk to children and teenagers about their problems and where to find help, as well as online and telephone support, is available through headspace at www.headspace.org.au/parents-and-carers.
PTSD and trauma
- Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress
- National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN)
- National Center for PTSD (US Veterans Affairs)
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Evidence Based Information Resource
- Trauma Pages
- The Traumatic Stress Clinic provides free, evidence-based treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and chronic grief in Sydney.
- http://trauma-recovery.net/over
Road and vehicle accidents
Sexual assault and sexual abuse
- National sexual assault, domestic family violence counselling service www.1800respect.org.au has a list of the main sexual assault services in Australia.
- All states and territories have crisis lines listed in the front page of the White Pages telephone directory.
Torture and trauma
- The Forum of Australian Services for Survivors of Torture and Trauma (FASSTT) has a list of agencies that provide support, advocacy and treatment.
- Foundation House, the Victorian non-government Foundation for Survivors of Torture and Trauma is also responsible for coordinating the national Forum of Agencies Assisting Survivors of Torture and Trauma.
Veterans and their families
- The Department of Veterans’ Affairs can provide information and referral advice. Call 133 254 (metro) or 1800 555 254 (regional).
- Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling (formerly VVCS) is a specialised, free and confidential service provided by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs for Australian veterans and their families. Call 1800 011 046, from anywhere in Australia. If you have questions about your eligibility to access Open Arms services, contact your nearest office.
Open Arms offers the following services:
- Crisis counselling (face-to-face or telephone, and an emergency toll-free telephone service)
- Individual, family and group counselling
- Country outreach programs for rural Australia
- Education and information resources
- Case management
- Referrals to other treatment services
- Specialised PTSD treatment programs in most states for veterans and military personnel
Victims of crime
A list of victim support hotlines in each state and territory, as well as information about other relevant services throughout Australia, is available at www.victimsupport.org.au.
24-Hour helplines and online support
Open Arms-Veterans & Families Counselling
1800 011 046 (local call)
Lifeline
13 11 14 (confidential 24/7 counselling and referrals)
Beyond Blue
1300 22 46 36
National sexual assault, domestic family violence counselling service
1800 737 732 or www.1800respect.org.au (online counselling available)
Kids Helpline
1800 55 1800 (free call) or www.kidshelp.com.au (online counselling available)
MensLine Australia
1300 78 99 78 or www.mensline.org.au (online and video counselling available)