Useful information and interesting reads

No matter who you are and where you live, because of the challenges we’re facing right now, you might be overcome with emotions.

You may be feeling confused, secluded, sad, anxious, depressed, frustrated, or you may just not feel like yourself and are struggling with negative thoughts.

You don’t have to go through these challenges alone.

There is always someone to talk to and help is available.

National 24/7 crisis services

Children and young people

Headspace ACT

Headspace ACT

Headspace provide tailored and holistic mental health support to Australians aged 12-25. With a focus on early intervention, they work with young people to provide support and strengthen their ability to manage their mental health.

Kids Helpline

Kids Helpline

24/7 phone: 1800 55 1800

Kids Helpline provide free, private and confidential 24/7 phone and online counselling services for young people aged 5 to 25. Young people who contact the helpline are provided support and assistance through professional, specialised counsellors, regardless of who they are, where they live or what they want to talk about.

Marymead logo

Marymead

Phone 1800 427 920 or email intake@marymead.org.au

Marymead offers a range of services and programs for children, young people and their families needing mental health and/or counselling support. Support can be provided individually or in groups, onsite at Marymead or within schools, or at a more comfortable, preferred location.

MindMap logo

MindMap

ACT's youth mental health navigation portal, is a new website that provides resources and information on mental health services for children and young people across the Canberra region.

Phone: 1800 862 111
Email: support@mindmap.act.gov.au

Youth Coalition of the ACT

Youth Coalition of the ACT

The Youth Coalition is the peak youth affairs body in the ACT. The Youth Coalition is responsible for representing and promoting the rights, interests and wellbeing of the estimated 78,000 young Canberrans aged 12-25 years and those who work with them. The general activities of the Youth Coalition fall under four key themes: policy; sector development; advocacy and representation; and, projects that respond to ongoing and current issues.

General

ACT Mental Health Consumer Network

ACT Mental Health Consumer Network

The ACT Mental Health Consumer Network is an organisation that is run by consumers for consumers, with the aim to bring about a higher standard of health care in the mental health sector through representation, lobbying and active involvement in new developments in the mental health sector.

A Gender Agenda

A Gender Agenda

A Gender Agenda aims to support the goals and needs of the intersex, transgender and gender diverse communities of Canberra and the surrounding region. Through education, advocacy, peer support and professional networks they connect people to each other and build off the wisdom of collective experiences.

Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drug Association ACT

Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drug Association ACT

The Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drug Association ACT (ATODA) is the peak body representing the non-government and government alcohol, tobacco and other drug sector in the ACT region. ATODA seeks to promote health through the prevention and reduction of the harms associated with alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, and provide expertise and leadership in the areas of social policy, sector and workforce development, research, coordination, partnerships, communication, information and resources.

Beyond Blue

Beyond Blue

Beyond Blue provides information and support to help all Australians achieve their best possible mental health, regardless of their age, location or personal circumstances.

Carers ACT

Carers ACT

Carers ACT offer a range of supports and services designed to nurture, connect and empower carers through practical support such as short-term replacement care when you need a break, counselling, educational workshops, social and therapeutic activities and advocacy. Their programs are designed to build resilience and knowledge, offer stress management strategies, relax and re-energise the body and mind and provide unique opportunities to connect socially with other carers.

Lifeline Canberra

Lifeline Canberra

Lifeline is a national charity committed to empowering Australians to be suicide-safe by providing all Australians experiencing a crisis with access to 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention services.

MensLine Australia

MensLine Australia

MensLine Australia is a national telephone and online support, information and referral service for men with family and relationship concerns. Staffed by professional counsellors, the service provides expert support for issues such as men’s mental health, anger management, family violence (using and experiencing), substance abuse, healthy relationships and integrated wellbeing.

Menslink

Menslink

Menslink support young men across the ACT region through educational sessions in schools and community groups, intensive short-term counselling programs and longer-term mentoring with positive male role models. Their work aims to encourage young men to speak up, get help, and get through stressful life events with minimal harm to themselves and others.

The Mental Health Community Coalition ACT

The Mental Health Community Coalition ACT

The Mental Health Community Coalition ACT is the peak body representing the community managed mental health sector in the ACT. Their work facilitates quality, sustainable, recovery-oriented services to support people with mental health issues and their carers.

Mental Health Foundation ACT

Mental Health Foundation ACT

The Mental Health Foundation provides timely, accurate and appropriate information, advice, referrals, source materials and support on mental health and related issues to the community in the ACT.

Mental Illness Education ACT (MIEACT)

Mental Illness Education ACT (MIEACT)

Mental Illness Education ACT (MIEACT) is the primary local mental health and well-being education provider for workplaces, community groups and secondary schools across Canberra and surrounding regions.

Perinatal Wellbeing Centre

Perinatal Wellbeing Centre

Formerly known as PANDSI, the Perinatal Wellbeing Centre is a not-for-profit community organisation that work to provide an early intervention service to mums, dads and families with low to moderate perinatal depression and anxiety. Their range of services include telephone support, day support group, playgroup, yoga evening support groups, fitness and support group, Dad’s information nights and they offer a library of books and DVD’s for loan.

Suicide Call Back Service

Suicide Call Back Service

Suicide Call Back Service is a national 24/7 telehealth provider that offers free professional phone and online counselling for people living in Australia. Staff managing the telephone or online counselling services are qualified professional counsellors, social workers or psychologists, trained to follow a contextual counselling and problem-solving process.

Workplace

Healthier Work ACT

Healthier Work ACT

Healthier Work is a free ACT government service under the Healthy Weight Initiative established to support employers to develop health and wellbeing initiatives within their workplace.

Heads Up

Heads Up

Heads Up is all about giving individuals and businesses the tools to create more mentally healthy workplaces.

Developed by Beyond Blue and supported by the Mentally Healthy Workplace Alliance. It encourages everyone in the workplace to play their part in creating a mentally healthy working environment, take care of their own mental health, and look out for their colleagues. On their website you’ll find a wide range of resources, information and advice for individuals and organisations - all of which are designed to offer simple, practical and, importantly, achievable guidance.

OzHelp

OzHelp

OzHelp is a leading provider of workplace wellbeing programs specialising in mental health and suicide prevention. Their evidence-based, proactive health and wellbeing programs are designed to assist employers to create mentally healthy workplaces by supporting individuals to achieve and maintain their best possible health and wellbeing.

Page last updated on: 2 Nov 2021