By Hope 103.2Friday 20 Mar 2020CultureReading Time: 2 minutes
In times of uncertainty and stress, when you need a little more support than friends and family can give — and especially if you are self-isolating and feeling alone — there are many great organisations that can you help you around the clock, from wherever you are located. Please reach out to some of the following trusted Australian services. [Up-to-date as of May 2020]
Help for Emotional and Mental Health
24-Hour Support Services in Australia
Kids Helpline – Australia’s only free, 24-hour counselling service especially for children and young people aged between 5 and 25. | kidshelpline.com.au | 1800 55 1800 | 24 hours, 7 days
Beyond Blue – Support hotline for anyone feeling anxious or depressed. | beyondblue.org.au | 1300 22 46 26 | 24 hours, 7 days
Lifeline – For anyone having a personal crisis, struggling emotionally or feeling distressed or suicidal. | www.lifeline.org.au | 13 11 14 | 24 hours, 7 days
Suicide Call Back Service – Australia’s 24-hour hotline, supporting anyone feeling suicidal. Call if you or someone you know has suicidal thoughts. www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au | 1300 659 467 | 24 hours, 7 days
MensLine Australia – A professional phone and internet support and info service for Australian men with emotional or relationship concerns. mensline.org.au | 1300 78 99 78 | 24 hours, 7 days
Self-Care in a Crisis: 12 Mental Health Tips & Tools for You or Someone You Love
Other Support Services
CatholicCare Western Sydney and Blue Mountains – free financial counselling and problem gambling counselling to the Western Sydney community. All services are currently provided virtually, either online or by telephone to allow people to stay at home. | ccss.org.au/covid19 | (02) 8843 2500 | 8.30am-8pm, Mon-Thur, 8.30am-5pm, Fri, 9am-1pm, Sat (AEST)
Hand & Help – a community initiative that cares for international students during the COVID-19 crisis. There are 600,000 international students currently in Australia and many have lost jobs and are experiencing extreme financial hardship. They are unable to return home to their families and are excluded from government welfare packages. Hand & Help want to make sure that no student is without a bed. They provide emergency accommodation by matching students to generous Australians who share their spare rooms. | handandhelp.com
MindSpot – A free support service helping people with anxiety, worry, low mood or depression. Also gives online assessment and treatment for anxiety and depression. (Not an emergency or callback service.) | mindspot.org.au | 1800 61 44 34 AEST, 8am-8pm (Mon-Fri), 8am-6pm (Sat)
eheadspace – Mental health and wellbeing support, info and services for young people aged 12 to 25 and their families. | https://headspace.org.au/eheadspace | 1800 650 890 | 9am-1am AEST, 7 days a week
SANE Australia – support, training and education supporting those with a mental illness. | www.sane.org | 1800 18 7263 | 10am-10pm AEST, Mon-Fri
Canteen Connect – any young people and/or parents impacted by cancer, particularly for those who may be high risk and currently in isolation | canteenconnect.org/
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