Row 5 of 5 · Help now: crisis lines in Australia
Help now: crisis lines in Australia
If life is in danger, call Triple Zero (000). To talk to someone now, Lifeline (13 11 14), the Suicide Call Back Service (1300 659 467) and Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800) each say they are there 24 hours a day, every day. Lifeline is for anyone in Australia, the Suicide Call Back Service for people in Australia aged 15 and older, and Kids Helpline for people aged 5 to 25.
General information, not medical advice. Call Triple Zero (000) in an emergency, or go to the emergency department of your nearest hospital. Each service’s own website, linked below, is the place to check its details.
Emergency
In an emergency
When someone, whether you or a person you know, is in immediate danger of hurting themselves or others, healthdirect says to call Triple Zero (000). The Suicide Call Back Service gives the same instruction: when someone’s life is in danger, or harm is an immediate risk, call emergency services on 000.
healthdirect describes a mental health crisis as a time when someone may be thinking of hurting themselves or others, and says a crisis is an emergency.
All major public hospitals, and some private ones, have an emergency department where people can get emergency help for mental health conditions. healthdirect says your local emergency department is an option when you, or a person you know, feels suicidal, has thoughts of harming others, or is very unwell. That is healthdirect’s whole list, on its page on mental health services.
When you call, healthdirect says, stay calm and speak clearly; the operator will ask whether you need police, fire or ambulance.
Triple Zero (000) can be called from any fixed or mobile phone, a satellite phone and some internet phone services, the Australian Government says, but if there is no mobile coverage on any network, a mobile phone cannot reach it. From a mobile, 112 reaches the same Triple Zero service. You cannot contact Triple Zero (000) by SMS, the Australian Government says. For people with a speech or hearing impairment, healthdirect describes the 106 text-based National Relay Service, which works only with a teletypewriter (TTY) or a device made for Deaf or hard of hearing people. The Australian Government adds that the National Relay Service also has other technologies for reaching Triple Zero (000), besides TTY 106.
Three services
Each service, from its own page
The details below are put in plain words from each service’s own website, which is linked in its card.
Lifeline
- Phone
- 13 11 14
- Text
- 0477 13 11 14, or chat online
- Eligibility
- Anyone in Australia can talk to a trained crisis supporter on the phone at any time. Lifeline describes its support as confidential, one-to-one and short-term, for people who feel overwhelmed or are finding it hard to cope.
- Hours
- 24/7. Lifeline says its phone, text and chat services are all available at any time, day or night.
- Support offered
- A trained crisis supporter who listens without judgement and works with you to look at options for support.
Suicide Call Back Service
- Phone
- 1300 659 467
- Online
- Chat counselling, 24/7, for people in Australia aged 15 and older; video counselling, by appointment, is for people aged 18 and older
- Eligibility
- It offers free, professional counselling to people in Australia aged 15 and older who are at risk of suicide, worried about someone who is at risk, bereaved by suicide, or going through emotional or mental health issues.
- Hours
- 24/7 by phone and online chat, anywhere in Australia, at no cost; video by appointment.
Kids Helpline
- Phone
- 1800 55 1800
- Online
- Web chat in real time, 24/7, and an online group for talking with others going through the same things
- Eligibility
- Kids Helpline says it provides free support and counselling to people aged 5 to 25. Within that age group, it says you can talk to it by phone or online at any time, for any reason. If you are over 25, Kids Helpline says it will suggest an adult support service for counselling; Lifeline, on 13 11 14, is for anyone in Australia. It says you can talk about anything on your mind, and gives examples: friendships, family, school, relationships, identity, stress, exciting news, awkward questions, and things that are hard to put into words.
- Hours
- 24/7, every day and every night.
- Parents and carers
- Kids Helpline asks parents and carers to make sure the young people in their lives know it is there at any time, for any reason.
Concern for others
If you are worried about someone
healthdirect says that sometimes there are no warning signs of suicide, and that if you are worried about someone, you can ask whether they are okay and seek professional advice. It says talking with a person who is having suicidal thoughts can reduce stigma and encourage them to seek help, and that talking to a doctor is a good first step. The Suicide Call Back Service’s counselling is also for people concerned about someone at risk.
Other helplines
Other official numbers
- healthdirect
- 1800 022 222. A registered nurse is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; in Victoria the line is known as NURSE-ON-CALL.
- Medicare Mental Health
- 1800 595 212, weekdays 8:30 am to 5 pm, except public holidays. A trained professional and a peer worker answer, and can help you find support.
healthdirect keeps a longer list of helplines on its mental health helplines page, including services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, men, the LGBTIQ+ community, veterans and people who are grieving.
For more about CBT itself, What CBT is and CBT online set out what the official pages say, and Better Access and Medicare explains how Medicare helps with the cost. The home page has the short version.