Community support services

Emergency

Contact these key services for help in a emergency or disaster situation.

If you have a health emergency (physical or mental) you can attend your local hospital’s accident and emergency department.

Find a hospital near me

 

External support services and resources

Suicide prevention counselling

  • Lifeline - support for suicidal thoughts or attempts, personal crisis, anxiety, depression, loneliness, abuse and trauma. 
  • Mental Health Line - NSW Health’s 24/7 state-wide phone service which links people with NSW Health mental health services.
  • Suicide Call Back Service - counselling for people affect by suicide

Domestic violence and sexual assault

  • 1800 Respect – 24 hour national sexual assault, family and domestic domestic violence counselling line for any one who has experience or is at risk of violence or sexual harm.
  • NSW Rape Crisis - Provides a 24 hour telephone and crisis counselling service for anyone who has experienced or is at risk of sexual violence.

Trauma

  • The Blue Knott – provides information and support for anyone who is affected by complex trauma

Mental health

  • Head to Health - Australia wide service that helps people access the mental health and wellbeing services that are right for them
  • Mental Health Line - NSW Health's 24/7 state-wide phone service which links people with NSW Health mental health services
  • Headspace - mental health support and counselling with a youth focus (ages 12-25)
  • Mindspot - online, personalised mental health care
  • Beyond Blue - mental health support and counselling. Online and telehealth available
  • Lifeline - support for suicidal thoughts or attempts, personal crisis, anxiety, depression, loneliness, abuse and trauma
  • 13YARN - An Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander crisis support line. Available 24/7. No shame, no judgement, safe place to yarn

LGBTIQ+

  • Q Life - Anonymous and free LGBTIQ+ peer and counselling support for people in Australia

For men

  • MensLine Australia - Offers free professional 24/7 telephone counselling support for mental with concerns about mental health, anger management, family violence
  • No to Violence - domestic violence support for men

Eating disorders

  • Butterfly Foundation - provides support services, treatment and resources, delivering prevention and early intervention programs for those with eating disorders and body image issues.

Drug and alcohol abuse

Gambling addiction

  • Gambling Help - GambleAware is here to support you to be gamble aware with information on how to gamble safely, play free confidential support for anyone affected by gambling.

Physical health

Mental and physical health is fundamentally linked. Taking care of your physical health is scientifically shown to improve mental wellbeing, and vice versa. If one declines, the other can be affected too.

A balanced diet, proper sleep, and cutting down unhealthy habits such as smoking, alcohol, and drugs are some of the key physical health factors that can promote mental wellbeing. Some of the things that can affect mental wellbeing are stress, working too much, and being too inactive.  

Online supports

Sexual health

Good sexual health means making sure you have the knowledge, skills and ability to make informed sexual choices and acting responsibly to protect your health and the health of others.

Online supports

If the person is at risk of self-harm or suicide

  • Contact Emergency Services on 000
  • Stay with them until the emergency services arrive

If immediate safety is not at risk

  • Contact UOW 24 Hour Wellbeing Support Line with the person you are supporting
  • If the person does not wish to speak to a UOW service you can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636 

You may find it tough supporting someone with a mental health issue and even avoid discussing what they are experiencing because you don't know what to say, or you're afraid about saying the wrong thing.

Supporting them and acknowledging how they feel can make a real difference, even if it is just staying in contact, listening and showing you are there. There is no 'one size fits all' model for supporting someone who is in distress.

The Headspace website features more information on what to look out for and how to support those you are concerned about, with resources on a range of topics from mental health, substance abuse, work/life balance and physical health.

Domestic and family violence

  • 1800RESPECT - confidential information, counselling and support service. 1800RESPECT is available for free, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to support people impacted by domestic, family or sexual violence.

Protection during sex

Breast health awareness

General health

  • HealthDirect - Provides easy access to trusted, quality health information and advice online and over the phone. Including health check and a symptom checker.

Homelessness

  • Links2Home - homelessness and crisis accommodation support

Financial support