If you need urgent help – or want anonymous support over the telephone – please contact one of the services below.
Crisis lines
24 hours, 7 days a week
Lifeline: 131114
Suicide Line: 1300 651 251
Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467
Addiction and eating disorders
DirectLine: 1800 888 236; 24 hours, 7 days
Family Drug Support (for those affected by and concerned about other people’s drug use) 1300 368 186
Gambler’s Helpline: 1800 858 858; 24 hrs, 7 days. Gambler’s Help is a free service for people who are affected by gambling (your own gambling or someone else’s). The service can assist with both emotional and financial support needs.
Eating Disorders Foundation of Victoria helpline: 9885 0318 or 1300 550 236; 9.30am – 5.00 pm, Monday – Friday. Provides phone support to all those whose lives are affected by eating disorders, body image issues and disordered eating, including sufferers, friends, and family.
Mental health issues
SANE Helpline: 1800 187 263; 9am – 5pm Monday – Friday. SANE Australia is an independent national charity helping people affected by mental illness through campaigning, education and research.
The Mental Illness Fellowship Victoria Helpline: 8486 4222; 9am – 5pm Monday – Friday. The Helpline is a free and confidential service that supplies mental health information support and referral advice. The helpline is for people with a mental illness, their families and friends, professionals, students and the general public.
Women’s issues
Women’s Information and Referral Exchange (WIRE): 1300 134 130; 9am – 5pm, Monday – Friday
PANDA – National Perinatal depression hotline: 1300 726 306; 9am – 5pm, Monday – Friday (for mental health problems before, during and after pregnancy)
Women’s Legal Service Victoria Legal Advice Line: (03) 9642 0877 or 1800 133 302; Monday and Friday mornings 10am – 1pm; Tuesday and Thursday evenings 6.30pm – 8.30pm; Wednesday afternoon 2pm – 5pm. For women in Victoria who are in need of legal advice, information or referral, irrespective of income or assets.
Women’s Domestic Violence Crisis Service: (03) 9373 0123 or 1800 015 188, 24 hours, 7 days. This service can help you if you’re worried about domestic violence in your family (i.e. one parent abusing another). They can provide support and ideas, info about how the law can help protect you, and they can tell you about places to stay to get away from domestic violence.
Parenting
Parentline: 3 22 89; 24 hrs, 7 days. Parentline is a statewide telephone counselling, information and referral service for parents and carers with children from birth to eighteen years.
PANDA – National Perinatal depression hotline: 1300 726 306; 9am – 5pm, Monday – Friday. Call for mental health problems before, during and after pregnancy.
Men’s issues
MensLine Australia: 1300 78 99 78; 24 hours, 7 days. Anonymous telephone support, information and referral service for men with family and relationship concerns.
Cancer
Cancer Council Helpline: 13 11 20; 9am – 5pm Monday – Friday. Specially trained staff are available to answer your questions about cancer and offer emotional or practical support.
Sexual assault
Centres Against Sexual Assault: (03) 9344 2210 or 1800 806 292; 24 hrs, 7 days. Provides support and info if you’ve been sexually abused, and can tell you about how the law can protect you. To find the sexual assault centre nearest you, see the website.
LGBTQ issues
Gay & Lesbian Switchboard: 9663 2939 (Melbourne) 1800 184 527 (regional Victoria and Tasmania) Monday – Thursday 6 – 10pm, Wednesday 2 – 10pm, Friday, Saturday and Sunday 6 – 9pm. Anonymous and confidential telephone counselling, referral and information service for the Victorian and Tasmanian gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex (GLBTI) communities.