Everyone has worries or challenging emotions from time to time. But sometimes those worries and emotions might feel overwhelming and affect how we think, feel or behave.
Sometimes people might even find themselves in situations where their thoughts and behaviour hurt themselves or the people they love. If that’s you, help is available.
Our thoughts and behaviour can be affected by things going on in our life, including:
- feeling unsafe or threatened
- feeling overwhelmed or not coping
- not sleeping
- feeling isolated, depressed or anxious
- using drugs and alcohol
- experiencing mental health problems or family violence
- losing someone we love
- relationship breakdowns.
Everyone has the right to feel safe whatever the situation.
Thinking about how your behaviour affects your partner, kids and other family members can be confronting and scary.
It takes a lot of courage to recognise you’re struggling, but it's really important to reach out for support.
It’s ok to ASK for help. Help is available.
Emergency help
If someone —including you — is in danger now, phone the police on 000 (triple zero).
- If you’re thinking about hurting yourself, phone:
- Lifeline on 13 11 14
- Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467
- Young people up to 25 can phone Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800
Using a mobile phone and 000 doesn't work? Phone 112 on a mobile to access the Emergency Call Service.
If you have a hearing or speech impairment and can access a TTY (teletypewriter), phone the text-based Emergency Call Service on 106.
Information for you
Suicide Prevention
Suicide Prevention Australia helps people:
- who are feeling suicidal
- after an attempt
- supporting others at risk
- through grief and loss.
Mental Health Treatment Plan
A Mental Health Treatment Plan can be prepared for you by your doctor if you have mental health issues. The plan identifies what type of health care you need and spells out what you and your doctor have agreed you are aiming to achieve. It may also refer you to local mental health services.
Mental Health Services
Public mental health services for all ages are available through SA Health. Services are provided through community health centres and hospitals, and in people's homes.
The SA Health Mental Health Triage Service operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This service:
- is the main point of access
- can provide advice and information in a mental health emergency or crisis situation
- is staffed by mental health clinicians
- will assess and refer to acute response teams where appropriate.
Phone 13 14 65 (24-hour service)
A Mental Health Treatment Plan can be prepared for you by your doctor if you have mental health issues. The plan identifies what type of health care you need and spells out what you and your doctor have agreed you are aiming to achieve. It may also refer you to local mental health services.
Medicare can help with the cost of some mental health treatments.
The Families Growing Together program offers parents and carers a range of face-to-face workshops and online webinars to suit their parenting needs.
For Aboriginal families and communities, a co-design process is used to tailor the workshops.
- My Child and Me – a two-part workshop for parents of children aged 2–12 years
- Living with Young People – a two-part workshop for parents of children aged 12–18 years
- Growing and learning in the family — a two-part workshop to support parents to connect with their child through play
- Coping Skills – a two-part workshop exploring stress and resilience
Delivered in a relaxed and informal style, these workshops and webinars offer parents helpful information and a choice of simple, practical strategies based on the latest parenting research and using information from Parenting SA.
Workshops and webinars are all live and free and are designed to be interactive with videos, activities and time for parents to discuss information together in small groups or through the chat function.
Parenting SA provides the community with free quality information on raising children.
Parent Easy Guides
Breaking the 'boy code': teaching boys about respectful relationships - Video 6 minutes
Child abuse - Parent Easy Guide
Coping Skills (Resilience) – Parent Easy Guide
Dealing with a crisis - Parent Easy Guide
Family violence - Parent Easy Guide
Girls: resilience, respect and healthy relationships - Video 6 minutes
Grief and Loss – Aboriginal Parent Easy Guide
Grief and Loss – Parent Easy Guide
Strong families - Multicultural Parent Easy Guide (in English)
Visit the sa.gov.au information or Problem Gambling for support with gambling and how to stop someone from gambling.
Gambling Help Online - phone 1800 858 858 (24-hour service)
Visiting Break the Cycle is an important first step in getting the support and information you need to break the cycle of domestic abuse.
Domestic abuse includes any attempt by one person in an intimate or family relationship to dominate and control the other.
The abusive person will use fear, guilt, shame, intimidation and/or violence to control and dominate the other, causing fear, physical harm and/or psychological harm.
Domestic abuse is a violation of human rights and is never acceptable. But once abusive behaviour is recognised, help is available and it can be stopped.
Services for you
If life is in danger, phone 000 (triple zero)
The Urgent Mental Health Care Centre provides high-engagement support in a calm, 'lounge-room-like' space to help with your urgent mental health needs. They work with you to understand what will help right now, and then if needed, connect you with the right support for later.
215 Grenfell Street, Adelaide
Phone 8448 9100
Email umhcc@neaminational.org.au
Hours: 12 noon to 10.30 pm every day
Sonder's range of services includes mental health counselling, addiction services, Aboriginal health and employment support. Services are available from centres across South Australia.
Phone 8209 0700
Email info@sonder.net.au
Headspace has information and support about your mental health and wellbeing.
Relationships Australia SA supports people with their personal, social and emotional health and wellbeing. They offer counselling and support with or issues including:
- Domestic Violence
- Family wellbeing
- Men's Health
- Relationships.
- Sexual Health
- Women's Health.
Phone: 1300 364 277
PACE support has free services (telephone, face-to-face , referral, advocacy, and more) and support for people of all ages who are living with, or supporting someone living with, panic anxiety, obsessive compulsive and eating disorders.
PACE cannot accept clients who have NDIS funding for anxiety, obsessive compulsive or eating disorders.
Phone 1800 809 304
Victim Support Service provide state-wide support to women and children who are at risk of, or experiencing domestic or family violence by providing:
- comprehensive risk and safety assessments,
- safety planning assistance,
- safety packages,
- home safety audits,
- tailored home safety upgrades, and
- referrals and links to ongoing support services.
Phone 1800 842 846
Support groups
GROW SA is a self-help organisation for people who suffer from depression and other mental illnesses. GROW is based on a 12-step self-help program. Members meet weekly.
Free phone 1800 558 268
Phone (03) 8298 9299
Email sa@grow.org.au
Someone to talk to
If life is in danger, phone 000 (triple zero)
Lifeline provides counselling for lots of different issues and referrals to services in your local community. Mobile phone calls are free. Online chat is available.
Phone 13 11 14 (24-hour service)
Text Lifeline (12 noon to 12 midnight)
Lifeline Online Chat (7.00 pm to 12 midnight)
If life is in danger, phone 000 (triple zero)
The Suicide Call Back Service supports people in crisis.
It also offers ongoing counselling to:
- people at risk of suicide
- carers for someone who is suicidal
- those bereaved by suicide.
Phone 1300 659 467 (24-hour service)
PANDA provides support and information to women and families affected by depression before or after the birth of a baby.
Phone 1300 726 306
Email info@panda.org.au
SANDS 24/7 Bereavement Support Line provides miscarriage, stillborn and newborn death support for parents, grandparents, friends or family members. A SANDS volunteer can:
- Listen to your story
- Help you find ways to cope with grief
- Help you navigate the anxiety of a subsequent pregnancy
- Give you information on other Sands support services
- Guide you on how to support a friend or family member.
Phone 1300 308 307
Beyond Blue gives access to information and referral to relevant services for depression and anxiety-related matters (not a counselling service). Cost of a local call.
- Pregnancy and new parents information
- Advice for new dads
- Lesbian, gay, bi, trans, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ+), and bodily, gender and sexually diverse people
Phone 1300 22 4636 (24-hour service)
Online Forums for sharing your experiences and tips for staying well
Kids Helpline provides help and support for young people aged 5 to 25 years (and their parents/caregivers) and is staffed by professional counsellors. Online chat is available.
Phone 1800 55 1800 (24-hour service)
If life is in danger, phone 000 (triple zero)
Parent Helpline South Australia is for parents of children 0 to 5 living in South Australia.
Phone 1300 364 100 (24-hour service)
The TIACS Toolbox is a collection of information and resources about mental health and well being.
TIACS provides free and confidential counselling for truckies, tradies, rural, blue collar workers and those who care about them, Australia-wide.
Phone or Text 0488 846 988
Hours: 8.00 am to 10.00 pm AEST, Monday to Friday
1800 RESPECT is a national sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling line for any Australian who has experienced, or is at risk of, family and domestic violence and/or sexual assault.
Phone 1800 737 732 (24-hour service)
The Domestic Violence Crisis Line offers information, counselling and safe accommodation support for women experiencing domestic violence in South Australia.
You can phone the Domestic Violence Crisis Line for free. They can organise a safe telephone interpreter. Let the person know what language you need.
Phone 1800 800 098 (24-hour service)
If life is in danger, phone 000 (triple zero)
There are services available specifically for Aboriginal families.
Mensline Australia offers free professional telephone counselling support for men with concerns about mental health, anger management, family violence (using and experiencing), addiction, relationship, stress and wellbeing.
Phone 1300 78 99 78 (24-hour service)
Men’s Referral Service takes calls from men and women who are looking for help to improve wellbeing and safety, for themselves, their children, a partner or family member.
Phone 1300 766 491
ADIS is a confidential telephone counselling, information and referral service for the general public, concerned family and friends, students and others.
Hours: 8:30 am to 10:00 pm daily
Phone 1300 13 1340
Many South Australians take part in some form of gambling for entertainment. For some people it can lead to harm to themselves and the people around them. People from all walks of life can find their gambling harming their finances, their relationships and their health.
The Gambling Helpline is:
- free
- confidential (you do not have to give your name)
- available every day.