External support services

Recommended external support services for mental health emergencies, including suicide and crisis support.

Suicide and crisis support

  • Lifeline Australia

    Lifeline Australia provides people in Australia access to crisis support and suicide prevention services. Services available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

  • Suicide Call Back Service

    The Suicide Call Back Service provides free counselling for anyone affected by suicide. Services available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

  • Suicideline (Victoria)

    Suicideline (Victoria) provides free, professional, anonymous support for people in Victoria at risk of suicide, concerned about someone else’s risk of suicide, and bereaved by suicide. Services available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

  • Kids Helpline

    Kids Helpline provides free phone and online counselling for young people aged 5 – 25 years. Services available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

  • 13YARN

    13YARN is an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander crisis support line for mob who are feeling overwhelmed or having difficulty coping. 13YARN offers a confidential one-on-one yarning opportunity with a Lifeline-trained Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporter who can provide crisis support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

    • Phone: 13 92 76

Counselling and mental health support

  • Beyond Blue

    Beyond Blue provides information and support to help Australians achieve their best possible mental health, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

  • MensLine Australia

    MensLine Australia provides professional telephone and online support and information for Australian men, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

  • eheadspace

    eheadspace provides a confidential, free, and secure space for young people (12 – 25 years) or their family. You can chat, email, or speak on the phone with a qualified youth mental health professional.

  • Care in Mind

    Care in Mind provides free online and phone counselling for people living, working, or studying in Melbourne's northern, central, and western suburbs (24 hours a day, 7 days a week).

Sexual assault, family or relationship violence

  • Women’s Emergency Care

    Women's Emergency Care at the Royal Women's Hospital provide a 24-hour, 7-days-a-week response to recent sexual assaults for women and men:

    Address:
    Women’s Emergency Care
    Lower Ground Floor
    20 Flemington Road
    Parkville Victoria

  • The Royal Women’s Hospital Sexual Assault Crisis Line

    The Royal Women’s Hospital Sexual Assault Crisis Line provides crisis care response for people who have experienced sexual assault.

    Phone: 03 9635 3610 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week)

  • Sexual Assault Crisis Line

    The Sexual Assault Crisis Line provides state-wide, after-hours, confidential, telephone crisis counselling for people who have experienced both past and recent sexual assault.

    Phone: 1800 806 292 (5pm – 9am)

  • 1800Respect

    1800Respect provides a national sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service.

  • Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre

    The Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre is Victoria's 24/7 family violence support service.

    Phone: 1800 015 188 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week)

  • No to Violence Men’s Referral Service

    No to Violence Men’s Referral Service is a men's family violence telephone counselling, information, and referral service in Victoria, New South Wales, and Tasmania. It is the central point of contact for men taking responsibility for their violent behaviour.

    Phone: 1300 766 491 (8am – 9pm, Monday-Friday; 9am - 6pm, Saturday-Sunday)

If your situation is not urgent, you may also wish to view more information and support for those who have experienced sexual assault and/or violence in relationships.

LGBTIQA+

  • Rainbow Door

    Rainbow Door (10am-5pm, every day) is a free specialist LGBTIQA+ helpline providing information, support, and referral to all LGBTIQA+ Victorians, their friends and family.

    Phone: 1800 729 367
    Text: 0480 017 246

  • Qlife

    Qlife (3pm - midnight, every day) provides anonymous and free LGBTI peer support and referral for people in Australia wanting to talk about sexuality, identity, gender, bodies, feelings or relationship.

    Phone: 1800 184 527
    Webchat with Qlife

Drugs, Alcohol, and Gambling

Grief and loss

  • Compassionate Friends Victoria

    Compassionate Friends Victoria provide grief support, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

    Phone: 03 9888 4944  or 1300 064 068

  • GriefLine

    GriefLine provide anonymous support and specialist grief counselling to individuals and families.

    Phone: 03 9935 7400 (12pm – 3am, 7 days a week)