If you're in crisis: immediate support

If you are in immediate danger, call 000. For urgent mental health support in Australia, Lifeline is available 24/7 on 13 11 14. You can text Lifeline on 0477 13 11 14. The Suicide Call Back Service is on 1300 659 467. 13YARN (13 92 76) is a 24/7 support line by and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. You are not alone.

If it's an emergency right now

If you or someone near you is in immediate physical danger, call 000. Tell the operator what is happening. Police, ambulance, or both can be dispatched.

If you cannot speak safely on a call, the National Relay Service offers two ways to reach emergency services without voice: the 106 Text Emergency Call Service (for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech impairment, using a teletypewriter) and SMS Relay on 0423 677 767. Text messages cannot be sent directly to 000. Find out more at accesshub.gov.au.

Free, 24/7 Australian support lines

Lifeline — 13 11 14 — free, confidential, 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention. Available to anyone in Australia. You can also text on 0477 13 11 14 or chat online at lifeline.org.au.

Suicide Call Back Service — 1300 659 467 — free, 24/7 counselling service for people at risk of suicide, carers, and those bereaved by suicide. Online chat at suicidecallbackservice.org.au.

Beyond Blue — 1300 22 4636 — free, 24/7 support for anxiety, depression, and mental wellbeing. Online chat at beyondblue.org.au.

13YARN — 13 92 76 — free, 24/7, confidential crisis support line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, staffed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporters. Online at 13yarn.org.au.

Kids Helpline — 1800 55 1800 — free, 24/7 support for young people aged 5 to 25. Online chat at kidshelpline.com.au.

1800RESPECT — 1800 737 732 — free, 24/7 national sexual assault, domestic, and family violence counselling service. Online chat at 1800respect.org.au.

MensLine Australia — 1300 78 99 78 — free 24/7 support for men dealing with family and relationship concerns, at any stage of life.

QLife — 1800 184 527 — anonymous, free peer support for LGBTIQ+ people, available 3pm to 9pm every day.

Open Arms — Veterans and Families Counselling — 1800 011 046 — free, 24/7 mental health support for current and former Australian Defence Force personnel and their families.

If you need urgent help and none of the above fits

Healthdirect — 1800 022 222 — free, 24/7 telephone health advice line staffed by registered nurses. They can assess your symptoms and help you decide whether you need emergency care, a GP, or another service.

Every state and territory in Australia has a Mental Health Line that can connect you with local acute mental health services. In NSW the number is 1800 011 511. In Victoria many local services can be reached by searching "mental health triage" plus your area. Your state's health department website lists the current numbers.

Most public hospital emergency departments have mental health clinicians available. You can walk in at any time.

If it's someone else in crisis

If someone you care about is in danger right now, call 000. If they are safe but struggling, you can call Lifeline (13 11 14) yourself to talk through how to support them. Beyond Blue offers advice for friends and family at beyondblue.org.au, and the Suicide Call Back Service supports carers as well as people at risk.

Listening, staying with them, and helping them reach a service is often more useful than trying to solve the crisis yourself.

What Abby Health can and can't do in a crisis

Abby is an online-first clinic offering scheduled and on-demand telehealth consultations. We are not a crisis service. We cannot guarantee a clinician is available in the next minute. For immediate danger, please use the services above.

For mental health care that is ongoing rather than urgent — a Mental Health Care Plan, medication continuation, or a psychology referral — Abby can help. See how to get a Mental Health Care Plan online. For non-urgent appointments, book through abbyhealth.app/book. Abby Health bulk bills mental health appointments for eligible patients.

If you're worried about reaching out

Calling a crisis line for the first time can feel hard. You do not need to know what to say. You do not need to have a specific diagnosis. You do not need to be "serious enough". The people who answer are trained for this. The call is free and confidential. You can hang up any time.

You matter. Please reach out.

Find Comfort. Abby Health. Knowing someone cares.