Get Help » Moving Forward
Access to ongoing support through this time of crisis is vital. The following services and organisations can either provide you with, or refer you to, support groups and counsellors in order to keep you safe and develop strategies to move forward. Many of these organisations offer services for individuals with mental or emotional health concerns and their family or friends.
- Telephone Suicide Crisis Support Services (see below)
- Support Networks / Groups (see below)
Telephone Suicide Crisis Support Services
Suicide Call Back Service
The Suicide Call Back Service provides free crisis counselling to people at risk of suicide (including those who have been discharged from a hospital following a suicide attempt), carers for someone who is suicidal and those bereaved by suicide, 24 hours per day 7 days a week across Australia. People who are not linked in with current professional support can also access up to six sessions of ongoing counselling with the same counsellor at times scheduled to suit you.
The website offers a wide range of information to help understand suicidal behaviour and to obtain support. Call the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 from anywhere in Australia for the cost of a local call (land line).
Lifeline Suicide Crisis Support Program (LSCSP)
The Lifeline Suicide Crisis Support Program (LSCSP) offers one-on-one phone contact over a 6 to 8 week period with an experienced telephone counsellor, specially trained in suicide prevention.
The counsellor will work with you to develop strategies to stay safe through the current crisis and to move forward. This program is offered by the Lifeline centres listed below. The centres have eligibility criteria for this service including that the requirement that you live within the centre catchment area.
Contact the centres to find out if you are eligible or to be referred to another service.
NSW Lifeline Harbour to Hawkesbury OR (02) 9498 8805
NSW Lifeline Northern Beaches OR (02) 9949 5522
NSW Lifeline South Coast OR 13 11 14 OR (02) 4228 1311
VIC Lifeline Gippsland OR (03) 5134 8278
Support Networks / Groups
Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia
The Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia Incorporated is a not-for-profit, grassroots, self-help, support and advocacy organisation of people with serious mental illnesses, their families and friends. Such illnesses include schizophrenia, major depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorders and anxiety disorders.
Information and support services including support groups can be accessed in each State (see below).
ACT Mental Illness Fellowship of ACT Inc OR (02) 6205 1349
NSW Schizophrenia Fellowship of NSW OR (02) 9879 2600
NT Mental Health Carers NT OR (08) 8948 1051
QLD Mental Illness Fellowship Queensland OR (07) 3358 4424 OR (07) 5563 8855
QLD Mental Illness Fellowship North Queensland OR 1800 455 455
SA Mental Illness Fellowship South Australia OR (08) 8221 5160
TAS ARAFMI (Tas) OR (03) 6224 7247
VIC Mental Illness Fellowship Victoria OR (03) 8486 4200
WA Mental Illness Fellowship of Western Australia Inc OR (08) 9228 0200
Mental Health Foundations & Associations
These State-based organisations deliver programs and services designed to positively enrich and to improve the lives of people living with a mental illness, including their family, friends and colleagues. The organisations work to increase awareness of mental health issues and actively work to remove the stigma associated with mental health.
The websites provide a range of resources and services can be accessed by calling the state number.
ACT Mental Health Foundation ACT OR (02) 6282 6658
NSW Mental Health Association NSW OR 1300 794 991
NT TEAM Health (Top End Association for Mental Health Inc) OR 1300 780 081
QLD Mental Health Association (Qld) Inc. OR (07) 3271 5544
SA Mental Health Coalition OR (08) 8212 8873
TAS Mental Health Council of Tasmania (no website available) 1800 808 890
VIC Mental Health Foundation of Australia (Victoria) OR (03) 9427 0406
WA Western Australian Association for Mental Health OR (08) 9420 7277
GROW
GROW is a community of persons working towards mental health through mutual help and a 12 step program of recovery. Small groups of people who have experienced depression, anxiety or other mental or emotional distress, come together on a weekly basis to help each other deal with the challenges of life.
Details of support groups on offer in each state can be found at the website or by contacting the state offices listed below.
National national@grow.net.au OR 1800 558 268
ACT act@grow.net.au OR (02) 6295 7791
NSW nsw@grow.net.au OR (02) 9633 1800
NT nt@grow.net.au OR (08) 8985 4799
QLD qld@grow.net.au OR (07) 3394 4344
SA sa@grow.net.au OR (08) 8244 9299
TAS tas@grow.net.au OR (03) 6223 6284
VIC vic@grow.net.au OR (03) 9528 2977
WA wa@grow.net.au OR (08) 9315 1666