Emergency and Urgent help

AUSTRALIA: Call 000 (Emergency Services) if life is in danger.(or if you are on a mobile and 000 doesn't work, call 112)

Emergency Service numbers in IN OTHER COUNTRIES call the emergency services number for your country.

For urgent help, ring the local mental health crisis team or go to the emergency department of the local hospital.

Public Emergency Mental Health Services

Statewide services listed by state 

ACT  |  NSW  |  NT  |  QLD  |  SA  |  TAS  |  VIC  |  WA 

Crisis support services

If you are experiencing difficulty or have concerns about the mental health of yourself or others, the following helplines provide telephone crisis support and counselling 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and online assistance (limited hours, depending on the service).

Crisis support services are free and anonymous.

Australian helplines (and online crisis support):

Lifeline - 13 11 14 - Lifeline TEXT 0477 13 11 14 - and online ‘crisis support chat’.  Service available 24/7 365 days/year.  Calls to Lifeline are free from mobile phones, including pre-paid and post-paid phones.  

13YARN on 13 92 76 (24 hours/7 days) - a national crisis support line for mob.

Suicide call-back service - 1300 659 467 - Free Counselling 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. Also has online crisis counselling via video or online chat.  This website also has helpful educational materials

Suicide Line (Victoria) - 1300 651 251 (Telephone, online and video chat).  Available 24/7 for people 15 and over living in Victoria.

Kids Helpline - 1800 551 800 - also has online chat and email counselling (for kids and teens aged 5–25 years)

eHeadspace: 1800 650 890 and online support to young people aged 12-25 years and their family and friends

Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 also online chat.  Youth Beyond Blue for 12-25 year olds

Blue Knot Foundation:  Helpline trauma counsellor 1300 657 380 (M-S 9am - 5pm AEST) or email

Mensline - 1300 789 978 - telephone and online counselling.  Available 24/7

Wesley LifeForce - Suicide Prevention and Crisis Support: a searchable database to find a service near you. The responsive website can be accessed via the internet browser on a personal computer or mobile device.

PaNDA (perinatal anxiety and depression) - 1300 726 306 - Monday to Friday 9am to 7.30pm AEST 

QLife - (LGTBI+) - 1800 184 527 - 3pm to 12am 

Rainbow Door 1800 729 367 for non-emergency support for the LGBTIQA+ community between 10am-5pm every day, TEXT 0480 017 246, or email 

Butterfly Foundation - (eating disorders) - 1800 334 673 (1800 ED HOPE) - Monday-Friday 8am to 9pm AEST (except public holidays)

1800RESPECT - 1800 737 732 - Family violence and sexual assault 24 hour telephone line. 

Safe Steps1800 015188 for family violence support. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

Counselling Online Alcohol and other drug support and chat counselling.  Available 24/7.  Numbers for various states listed on their website under 'CALL'

DirectLine 1800 888 236: alcohol and drug counselling and referral in Victoria (Phone or online 24/7)

Family Drug Support Helpline 1300 368 186 Available 24/7

Ice Help Line 1800 423 238 - will direct users and families to the treatment and support services they need, and provide general information to the community about ice and its effects.  Phone only.

National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline 1800 250 015 free and confidential advice about alcohol and other drugs. Phone only

Poison Information Centre 13 11 26 (all states).  NSW Poison Information Centre

Lived-Experience Telephone Support Service (LETTS): 1800 031 755 (For SA residents ONLY) After-hours service supports people with mental health issues as well as their carers, family and friends. From 5:00pm-11:30pm every night. 

Helplines for other countries:

To locate helplines in different countries, see Befrienders or Facebook "I need to find a suicide hotline for myself or a friend" page.

International database of Helplines for a variety of issues, including depression, stress, violence, addiction, eating disorders

Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is for your information only.  We are unable to guarantee that the support offered by the service will meet your needs.