Some helpful Mental Health references and referral centres
Contacts and referrals:
- Youth Health call 02 4320 2856
- Mental Health call 02 4320 3500
- Reconnecting Adolescents and Parents Team (RAPT) call 1800 067 967 or 02 4325 9600
- Youth Suicide Helpline call 13 11 14
Some helpful websites
Mental Health First Aid
Mental Health First Aid is a community where everyone has the first aid skills to support people with mental health problems.
MindMatters
MindMatters is a national mental health initiative for secondary schools. The MindMatters framework supports secondary schools to promote and protect the mental health and wellbeing of school community members. It includes resource materials, professional development and a website.
Kids Help Line
Kids Help Line is Australia's only free, confidential and anonymous, telephone and online counselling service specifically for young people aged between 5 and 25.
The free call number is 1800 55 1800 (free call from landlines anywhere in Australia, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Mobile phone charges may apply). The Parent Helpline NSW number is 13 20 55.
Lifeline
Lifeline is a national charity providing all Australians experiencing a personal crisis with access to 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention services.
Phone 13 11 14 (24-hour crisis support). Lifeline provides mental health, suicide prevention and crisis support services.
Beyondblue
Beyondblue aims to increase the capacity of the broader Australian community to prevent depression and anxiety, and to respond effectively to it.
Youthbeyondblue
Youthbeyondblue aims to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and associated drug and alcohol problems among young people. The website includes fact sheets on a range of topics from bullying to cannabis use and eating disorders. It talks about treatments, ways to get help and how to support a young person going through a tough time.
The Black Dog Institute
The Black Dog Institute is a not-for-profit, educational, research, clinical and community-oriented facility offering specialist expertise in depression and bipolar disorder. This website offers information, resources and research about mental illness.
MoodGYM
MoodGYM is an interactive web-based therapy program designed to prevent depression in young people. It provides information, demonstrations and exercises designed to help users identify their susceptibility to mental health problems, gain information about how to address these problems and develop effective thinking strategies and coping skills.
Response Ability
Response Ability provides information to support the use of Response Ability multi-media packages in Australian tertiary institutions.
Response Ability is an initiative of the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, implemented by the Hunter Institute of Mental Health in partnership with universities and tertiary educators.
Response Ability supports the exploration of relevant principles in teacher education programs, to better prepare teachers for their important roles in supporting the development and wellbeing of children and young people. The project team is currently developing resources to support the Vocational Education and Training of early childhood workers.
Blue Pages
The BluePages website is a comprehensive online source of information about depression and its treatments (medical, psychological and alternative). MoodGYM and e-couch can be accessed from this site.
Raising Children
Raising children network is an Australian parenting website which offers comprehensive, practical, expert child health and parenting information and activities covering children and teenagers.
Parenting Research Centre
The Parenting Research Centre website provides information on parenting including resources, programs and policies based on scientific evidence.
Positive Partnerships
The Positive Partnerships website is an excellent source of information for parents or teachers of children on the autism spectrum.
Children of Parents with a Mental Illness
The website Children of Parents with a Mental Illness (COPMI) is a national resource centre. It provides information for families where a parent has a mental illness and provides education and information for workers who come into contact with these families. The website includes links to age-appropriate resources for children and young people and fact sheets and curriculum ideas for teachers.
Treatment and rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors
Treatment and rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS) provide free services to support refugee resettlement and to overcome the effects of their experiences. Responses to trauma include depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, low self-esteem and guilt.
Bite Back
Bite Back is a new website where young Australians can tell their personal stories, sharing struggles and joy, whilst discovering fresh ways to move forward and really enjoy life.
The site also provides young people reliable information about mental fitness and ways to support friends and themselves through tough times.
Headspace
Headspace provides mental and health wellbeing support, information and services to young people aged 12 to 25 years and their families. Headspace has a range of youth-friendly health professionals who can help with general health; mental health and counselling; education, employment and other services; and alcohol and other drug services.
Orygen Youth Health
Orygen Youth Health is Australia's largest youth-focused mental health organisation. It is based in Melbourne. The website provides a range of resources about youth mental health issues including videos, booklets, information sheets and manuals. These can be accessed through the "Information and Resources" pathway of the website.
Reach Out
Reach Out is a web-based initiative that offers information, support and resources to help young people improve their understanding of mental health issues, develop resilience, and increase their coping skills and help-seeking behaviour.