Anxiety and depression support services
If you’re experiencing depression or anxiety and wondering where to turn for support, our guide to anxiety and depression support services can help you to identify and access help that is available.
Emergency help
If you or someone around you is in immediate danger, call 000 or go to a public hospital emergency department.
If you’re feeling distressed and want to talk to someone right now, you can find a list of free, confidential helplines via our Urgent Help page.
Contact your local crisis assessment treatment team
Another option in a crisis is to contact your local crisis assessment and treatment team. They can provide immediate support during a mental health crisis, and they’re available 24/7. Here's how you can get support across different states and territories in Australia:
ACT: call the Access Mental Health Line on 1800 629 354
NSW: call the Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511
NT: call the Mental Health Line on 1800 682 288
QLD: call 1300 MH CALL on 1300 642 255
SA: call the Mental Health Triage Service on 13 14 65
TAS: call the Mental Health Services Helpline on 1800 332 388
VIC: call Triage on 1300 874 243 (1300 TRIAGE) or contact your nearest major public hospital
WA: call the Mental Health Emergency Response Line on 1300 555 788 (Metro) or 1800 676 822 (Peel region). If you’re living in a regional or remote area, call Rural Link on 1800 552 002 (or 1800 720 101 for hearing-impaired callers).
Anxiety and depression support services
The following online, research-based or community-led organisations provide information and tools to support people with depression and anxiety.
Provides mental health support for depression, anxiety and other mental health concerns. They offer free online and phone counselling and have treatment centres located all around Australia.
Visit the headspace website to explore all the support options available, or check their directory to find your closest headspace centre.
Provides access for all Australians to crisis support and suicide prevention services. They offer free 24/7 online and phone counselling, as well as tools and techniques to help support your mental health.
Visit the Lifeline website for more information. You can also call directly on 13 11 14, or check out the Lifeline Support Toolkit for some self-help resources.
Free 24/7 online and phone counselling for young people aged 5–25. You can request the same counsellor every time.
Visit the Kids Helpline website or call the helpline on 1800 55 1800.
National helpline for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people who are going through a tough time and feel like having a yarn. All operators are First Nations people who are trained to support you without judgement and to provide a confidential, culturally safe space to yarn about your needs, worries or concerns.
Visit the 13 YARN website or call directly on 13 92 76.
Provides information and resources for people with complex mental health issues. It also has a hotline and forums where you can chat with other people.
Visit the SANE Australia website for more information, or call 1800 187 263, Monday to Friday, 10 am–8 pm.
Research organisation that specialises in mental health issues, including depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder. Their website has detailed information, including self-tests and suggestions for what you can do right now to feel better.
Visit the Black Dog Institute website for more information.
Provides information on depression and anxiety, including symptom checklists and details of additional support services.
Visit the Beyond Blue website for more information.
Formerly known as Head to Health, this government website directs you to available mental health information, programs and services from publicly funded providers.
Visit the Medicare Mental Health website to start looking.
Organisation for friends and family members supporting people with mental health concerns.
Visit the Mental Health Carers Australia website for more information.
Provides online and in-person treatment for anxiety and depression.
Visit the CRUfAD website for more information.
International not-for-profit organisation that provides helpful tips for managing mental health and wellness.
Visit the HelpGuide website for more information.
Offers a range of services for people experiencing anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), depression, and other mental health challenges. They run an OCD and anxiety helpline, which provides support, information and referrals to people with anxiety disorders and their families and carers, as well as to mental health-care providers. They are based in Victoria, but the helpline is available to anyone in Australia. ARCVic also runs online and in-person (Victoria-based) anxiety support groups and recovery programs.
Visit the ARCVic website for more information, or call the ARCVic Anxiety Helpline on 1300 269 438, Monday to Friday, 10 am–7 pm.
Self-guided anxiety and depression support programs
There are a lot of places online that can support you with a variety of strategies for managing symptoms of depression and anxiety. Check out the following options.
Online cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) program from the Australian National University that is designed to help you reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Visit the MoodGYM website.
Free, government-funded program that provides online assessment and treatment courses and can also help you to find local services.
Visit the MindSpot website.
Interactive self-help service from the Black Dog Institute that is designed to help you track your moods and build resilience.
Visit the myCompass website.
Free, self-guided online wellbeing and resilience program from the Black Dog Institute for young people aged 13–16 years.
Visit the BITE BACK program website.
A range of clinically proven courses from the Clinical Research Unit for Anxiety and Depression (CRUfAD), including CBT programs for helping with anxiety and depression, general self-help and wellbeing. Courses can be completed with or without a clinician and are available free or at a low cost.
Visit This Way Up’s website.
ReachOut’s Tools and Apps page lists some more professionally reviewed apps and tools to help you manage depression or anxiety.
What can I do now?
Take a look at some ways to manage anxiety and stress.
Check out some self-help strategies for depression.
Learn more about different types of mental health professionals and how they can help you.