Mental Health & Drug and Alcohol Support during holiday season

During the holiday season, many services will be closed, with limited availability or at full capacity. Take advantage of reliable Australian mental health websites and support lines.

Many people can benefit from low intensity interventions such as online therapy either alone or in conjunction with face-to-face therapy.

Important points when recommending websites

Use websites from reputable organisations
Look at them before recommending them
Make sure they have links to emergency help
Make specific recommendations tailored to each person’s needs
Provide the URL in a form your patient/client cannot lose
If possible, show them through the website
Follow up your recommendations

Resources for practitioners:

www.emhprac.org.au/resources
Psychological Toolkit for health professionals also available at Black Dog Institute – www.blackdoginstitute.org.au
Drug and Alcohol Specialist Advisory Service (DASAS) Sydney metro: 9361 8006. The helpline assists health professionals seeking advice about the diagnosis and treatment of patients with alcohol or drug issues. The DASAS is a free service available to NSW health professionals 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.

Here are some e-Mental Health resources you can recommend to your patients/clients:

Head to Health	www.headtohealth.gov.au	Digital mental health resources from trusted service providers
Beyondblue	www.beyondblue.org.au	Wellbeing and support services
Reachout	www.reachout.org.au	Reliable mental health apps
Biteback	www.biteback.org.au	Weekly challenges to help improve mental fitness and reduce stress
Youth
Youth Beyond Blue	www.youthbeyondblue.com	Support and counselling for young people 12-25
E-headspace	www.eheadspace.org.au	Support and counselling for young people 12-25
LGBTI support
Q Life	https://qlife.org.au	Peer support and referrals.Online chats also available
Pregnancy and perinatal period
Mumspace	www.mumspace.com.au	Supporting the emotional health of new and expecting mums
Mind the Bump app	www.whatwerewethinking.org.au	Resources for new parents
Mum Mood Booster	www.mummoodbooster.com	Evidence-based treatment for postnatal depression
Baby Steps	www.babysteps.org.au	Supports dad as well as mums

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Well Mob	www.wellmob.org.au	Social, emotional, and cultural wellbeing online resources
Guided self-help
This Way Up	www.thiswayup.org.au	Self-guided mental health courses
Moodgym	www.moodgym.org.au	Interactive self-help book for prevention and management of depression and anxiety symptoms
myCompass	www.mycompass.org.au	Interactive modules
Mindspot	www.mindspot.org.au	Therapist assisted online self-help
Smiling mind app	www.smilingmind.com.au	Web and app-based meditation program
Beyond Now App	https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/beyondnow-suicide-safety-planning	Suicide safety planning
Drug and alcohol
On Track	www.ontrack.org.au	Alcohol and depression course
Hello Sunday Morning and Daybreak app	www.hellosundaymorning.org	Helps you change your relationship with alcohol.

Mental Health Support Lines

Lifeline	13 11 14	24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention
Suicide Call Back Service	1300 659 467	24-hour free counselling for suicide prevention and mental health
NSW Mental Health Line	1800 011 511	24-hour service. Anyone with a mental health issue can use this to find the right care
Men’s Line Australia	1300 78 99 78	24/7 help, support, referral and counselling
Kids Helpline	1800 55 1800	24/7, private and confidential counselling service for 5-25 years.
Family Referral Service	1800 066 757	Brings together families, support services and community resources
Neami National	9570 5933	Community-based service to improve mental health and wellbeing in communities
1800 Respect	1800 737 732	Support for those experiencing sexual assault, domestic, and family violence
Domestic Violence Line	1800 656 463	Trained female caseworkers providing counselling, advice, referrals and legal help
NSW Rape Crisis Centre	1800 424 017	24/7 telephone and online counselling service
NSW Health Sexual Assault Services	https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/parvan/sexualassault/Pages/health-sas-services.aspx	Local sexual assault service
Eastern & Central Sydney Sexual Assault Service	9515 9040 and 9515 6111 (after hours)	Local sexual assault service
Southern Sydney Sexual Assault Service, St George Hospital	0113 2494 or 9113 1111 (after hours)	Local sexual assault service
QLife	1800 184 527	Free LGBTI peer support and referral
Mental Health Carers	1300 554 660	Support for carers
PANDA	1300 726 306	Supports women and families suffering from perinatal anxiety and depression
Gidget Foundation Australia	1300 851 758	Promote emotional wellbeing for expectant and new parents
Beyondblue	1300 22 4636	Information and support to achieve best possible mental health.
Eheadspace Support	1800 688 248	For young people aged 12-25

Drug and Alcohol Support Lines

Alcohol and Drug Information Service	1800 422 599	ADIS is a 24-hour state wide telephone service offering support, information, advice, crisis counselling and referral to services in NSW.
Family Drug Support	1300 368 186	24 hour a day telephone support to families and carers, staffed by volunteers who have experience of family members with alcohol and drug use.
Stimulant Treatment Line	(02) 9361 8088 (Sydney metro)1800 10 11 88 (Regional NSW)	Provides info, referral, crisis counselling and support for people who use stimulants such as methamphetamine, cocaine and ecstasy. Free service with counsellors available 24 hours a day for support with your own or someone else’s stimulant use.
Opioid Treatment Line	1800 642 428	Provides information and referral relating to methadone, buprenorphine and suboxone. Free service available Mon to Fri, 9.30 – 5pm.
Alcohol and Drug Foundation	1300 85 85 84	Provides information and support on alcohol and drugs services and practical next steps.
More information from NSW health here