Beyond Blue
When things are getting too much
Life gets heavy sometimes. It might be grief, relationship troubles, loneliness, work or money pressure, anxiety or depression… or you might just notice you’re not coping as well as you usually do.
You don’t need to wait until it’s a crisis before you talk to someone. Beyond Blue offers free mental health information, resources and support right across Australia.
Talk to someone
Beyond Blue’s Support Service offers free, confidential counselling 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can call 1300 22 4636 or use their online chat.
You don’t need a diagnosis or a “good enough” reason to call. Maybe you’re having a rotten day, feeling overwhelmed, or wondering where to even start. The counsellors will listen and help you work out what kind of support might be useful, and you don’t have to know exactly what to say.
If you’re supporting someone else
Sometimes the person who needs help isn’t you. You might be worried about your partner, a family member, a mate or someone at work, and not sure what to say without making things worse.
Beyond Blue has resources for exactly that, and you can call the Support Service yourself. You don’t have to wait for the other person to ask for help.
More than a phone line
There’s plenty you can use in your own time, including information and tools on anxiety, depression, suicide prevention, relationships, financial wellbeing and more. There are also online forums where you can anonymously read and share with people who’ve been there.
If you’re after ongoing care, Beyond Blue also explains the different types of mental health professionals and how to find one.
Mental health coaching
Beyond Blue’s NewAccess program offers six free sessions with a mental health coach for people who are stressed or overwhelmed by everyday things like work, study, relationships, health or loneliness. It’s practical help with tools you can actually use, and it’s designed for people who aren’t currently seeing a psychologist or psychiatrist.
You don’t have to be falling apart
Asking for help can feel like admitting you’re not coping. It isn’t. Getting support early is just a way of making sure things don’t get harder than they need to be.
You don’t have to prove things are bad enough. If something isn’t right, that’s reason enough. You can simply say things aren’t going well and you’d like someone to talk to… that’s a perfectly good start.
If you need help now
For free, confidential counselling, call Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 or use their online chat. Both are available 24/7.
If you’re in an emergency, or at immediate risk of harming yourself or someone else, call 000.
If you’re thinking about suicide or need immediate crisis support, you can also call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
This page is provided by Rest as a starting point, not as a substitute for professional or crisis support. Services and operating hours can change, so check Beyond Blue’s current information before relying on a particular service.