Useful Resources for Parents, Carers & Young People
If you or your teenager need immediate support, want more information about mental health, trauma, or if you would like to speak to a mental health professional, please check out the following organisations and helplines. You’ll also find some other resources referred to in the PiP-TEx modules.
If you need to contact the PiP-TEx team, see the contact us page.
Crisis supports
If you have immediate concerns about your teen’s or others’ safety, or if urgent medical attention is needed:
Dial 000or visit your nearest hospital emergency department.
If your teen is distressed but currently physically safe, and you would like to talk to someone about what steps to take next:
Call your state-specific mental health emergency response line. They are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to talk with you about your situation, make recommendations, and/or refer you to appropriate support.The phone numbers for state-specific mental health emergency response lines are listed below. Where available, these numbers refer specifically to child and adolescent mental health support services.
Support helplines
For immediate support and advice about keeping yourself or your teen safe, contact:
Kids Helpline
A free, private, telephone and online counselling service specifically for young people aged 5 to 25 years.
Phone: 1800 55 1800
Lifeline
Lifeline provides access to crisis support, suicide prevention and mental health support services.
Phone: 13 11 14
Suicide Call Back Service
Suicide Call Back Service provides 24/7 telephone and online counselling to people affected by suicide.
Phone: 1300 659 467
Mental health support
In-person psychological support
Find a Psychologist
If you or your young person would like to find a registered psychologist in your area, the Australian Psychological Society and Australian Association of Psychologists Inc Find a Psychologist service can assist with this.
Medicare-subsidised psychology sessions with a mental health treatment plan
A Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) is a plan provided by a general practitioner (GP) to support someone with mental health issues. A MHTP can include referral to a mental health professional, including registered psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers and occupational therapists. If you have a MHTP, Medicare will pay some or all of the cost of a limited number of sessions each year. The out of pocket cost varies for different professionals or clinics.
Telehealth psychological support and counselling
If you want telehealth (online or phone) information and counselling for mental health issues, the following services may be suitable:Beyond Blue
Learn more about depression and anxiety, or talk it through with support services at Beyond Blue. Email or chat online.
Phone: 1300 224 636, 24 hours, 7 days
Mensline Australia
Support and referral to specialist men’s services.
Phone: 1300 789 978, 24 hours, 7 days
ReachOut & ReachOut Parents
Reachout provides self-help information, referral tools, and a peer-support program for young people and their parents.
Sane Australia Mental Health Helpline
SANE Australia’s Mental Health Helpline provides free telehealth support, information and referrals.
Phone: 1800 187 263, 10am – 8pm, Monday to Friday
Someone Health
Someone Health provides Medicare bulk billing psychologist counselling Australia wide by video and telephone.
Phone: 1300 546 821
Parenting support lines by state
Phone: 02 6287 3833, 9am – 4pm, Monday to Friday (except public holidays)
Phone: 1300 130 052, 9am – 9pm, Monday to Friday or 4pm – 9pm weekends
Phone: 1300 30 1300, 8am – 10pm, 7 days
Phone: 1800 999 900, 8am – 8pm, Monday to Friday
Phone: 1300 30 1300, 8am – 10pm, 7 days
Phone: 13 43 25 84, Speak to a registered nurse 24 hours 7 days or request the Child Health Team 6.30am – 11pm, 7 days
Phone: 1300 364 100, 7.15am – 9.15pm, 7 days (calls outside these times will be redirected to the national Health Direct helpline)
Phone: 1300 808 178, 24 hours, 7 days
Phone: 13 22 89, 8am – 12am, 7 days
Council of Single Mothers and their Children
Phone: 03 9654 0622 (Melbourne Metro) or 1300 552 511 (outside Metro Melbourne), 9.30am – 3pm Monday to Friday
Phone Metro: 08 9368 9368 , 8am-8pm, 7 days
Phone Regional: 1800 111 546 , 8am-8pm, 7 days
Wanslea – Grandcare (Information and support service for grandparents)
Phone: 08 9245 2441, 8am – 5pm, Monday to Friday
Additional resources
Evidence-based, online (self-guided) programs for mental health problems:
Moodgym
Moodgym is an interactive program based on Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Interpersonal Therapy. It can help you to identify the mental health difficulties and to learn skills to cope with your emotions.
This Way Up
This Way Up provides a suite of self-paced online programs for a range of mental health problems. The programs can teach you strategies to help improve the way you feel.
Mindspot
Mindspot provides access to free online and telephone mental health assessments, treatment programs, and a resource library for a range of mental health problems.
Phone: 1800614434
Mindfulness Apps
For access to free daily mindfulness and meditation guides for adults and young people, download one of the below apps:
Relationship Support via Support Groups or Counselling
Relationships Australia: please see website for phone numbers by state
Support for Family Violence (1800Respect)
For support with aggressive or violent behaviour in your home, please see:
National Domestic Family and Sexual Violence Counselling Service; 1800 737 732 (24 hours, 7 days a week)
How to Help with Bullying
For more information about how to help with bullying, please check out:
Online resources for self-injury and suicide prevention:
Beyond Now - Suicide Safety Planning
The Beyond Now suicide safety planning app helps a person to stay safe if they’re experiencing suicidal thoughts, feelings, distress or crisis.
Additional mental health resources just for young people
To learn more about mental health issues:
Youth Beyond Blue
Youth Beyond Blue’s website is for young people aged 12 to 15. If you need to talk to someone, find more information, or find out where you can go to see someone contact the beyondblue support service.
Phone: 1300 22 4636
headspace
Headspace helps young people aged 12 to 25 who are going through a tough time, providing support for problems like depression, anxiety, bullying and body image.
Phone: 1800 650 890
Online and phone counselling:
eheadspace
eheadspace is a confidential, free and secure space where young people aged 12 to 25 or their family can chat, email or speak on the phone with a qualified youth mental health professional.
Kids Helpline
A free, private and confidential, telephone and online counselling service specifically for young people aged between 5 and 25.
Phone: 1800 55 1800
Support for issues relating to gender, identity and sexuality:
QLife
Australia-wide, anonymous, peer support and referral for people wanting to talk about issues relating to sexuality, identity, gender, bodies, feelings, or relationships. Phone and web-chat available.
qheadspace
A peer led online chat for LGBTQIA+ young people in Australia.
Reachout Peer Chat
If you have mental health challenges or something on your mind that you would like to chat about, you can book a free and confidential text-based chat with a peer worker.
Other useful resources for parents, carers and young people
The services listed below provide information and referral pathways for families and individuals struggling with family violence, accommodation, legal and COVID-19 related concerns.
Family violence and emergency accommodation
1800 Respect
Provides 24/7 telephone and online counselling support as well as access to information and services for people impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence and abuse.
Legal support
Australian Legal Assistance Services
Legal Aid provides free legal services, including information, legal advice, and representation in courts and tribunals. Each state and territory has its own Legal Aid service provider:
Family Advocacy and Support Service
The Family Advocacy and Support Service combines free legal advice and support at court for people in Australia affected by domestic and family violence. Each Australian State and Territory has a Family Advocacy and Support Service. Refer to the website for state/territory specific contact information.
Youth Law Australia
Free, confidential legal information and advice for young people under 25. Provides information specific to all Australian states and territories.