Crisis Support Numbers
If you or someone you know needs immediate support, phone 000 or present to your local emergency department. The following services are also free to call.
General crisis support
Lifeline — 13 11 14 (24/7) Crisis support and suicide prevention for anyone experiencing a personal crisis.
Suicide Call Back Service — 1300 659 467 (24/7) Free phone and online counselling for anyone affected by suicide.
Beyond Blue — 1300 224 636 (24/7) Free, confidential phone and webchat counselling for anyone in Australia.
For specific groups
Kids Helpline — 1800 55 1800 (24/7) Free, confidential phone and online counselling for young people aged 5 to 25.
MensLine Australia — 1300 789 978 (24/7) Telephone and online counselling for men with emotional health and relationship concerns.
QLife — 1800 184 527 (Daily, 3pm to midnight) Free, anonymous peer support for LGBTIQA+ people and their loved ones.
13YARN — 13 92 76 (24/7) Crisis support line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, run by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
For specific situations
1800 Respect — 1800 737 732 (24/7) National sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service.
Blue Knot Foundation Helpline — 1300 657 380 (Mon to Fri 9am to 5pm AEST) Support for survivors of childhood trauma and complex trauma, and their supporters.
Websites and Online Resources
Here is a collection of trusted websites with information, tools and resources to support mental health and emotional wellbeing.
General Mental Health Information and Support
Beyond Blue — beyondblue.org.au
Information, resources and 24/7 phone and online counselling for anxiety, depression and suicide. 1300 22 4636.
ReachOut Australia — au.reachout.com
Online mental health support, information and peer connection designed specifically for young people.
headspace — headspace.org.au
Mental health information, online chat and resources for young people aged 12–25, including topics on identity, relationships, ADHD, and more.
Black Dog Institute — blackdoginstitute.org.au
Evidence-based mental health information, self-assessment tools and free online programs including Bite Back for young people aged 13–16.
Self Help Tools
Centre for Clinical Interventions (CCI) — cci.health.wa.gov.au
Free, clinically developed self-help workbooks covering anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, sleep problems and more. Developed right here in WA.
Smiling Mind — smilingmind.com.au
A free Australian-developed mindfulness and meditation app for all ages, widely used in schools and highly regarded.
This Way Up — thiswayup.org.au
Evidence-based online courses for anxiety, depression, stress and more, developed by St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney. Some courses are free, others subsidised with a GP referral. Very clinically credible.
myCompass — mycompass.org.au
A free Black Dog Institute self-help tool for managing anxiety, depression and stress. Interactive and self-paced.
Neurodivergence Support
Autism Association of Western Australia — autism.org.au
Information, resources and support services for autistic people and their families in WA.
Reframing Autism — reframingautism.org.au
A strengths-based, neurodiversity-affirming resource run by autistic people, with articles, lived experience stories and practical tools.
ADHD Australia — adhdaustralia.org.au
Evidence-based information, resources and community support for people with ADHD and their families.
ADDitude — additudemag.com
A comprehensive US-based resource for people with ADHD and their families, with a large library of articles, expert webinars, self-assessment tools and practical strategies. Note that some information around diagnosis and medication pathways is specific to the US context.
LGBTIQA+ Support
QLife — qlife.org.au
Free, anonymous peer support and referral for LGBTIQA+ people and their loved ones. Call 1800 184 527 or webchat, daily 3pm–midnight.
Minus18 — minus18.org.au
Australia’s leading charity supporting LGBTIQA+ young people, with resources, events and a safe online community.
headspace — headspace.org.au/sexual-identity
Specific resources for young people exploring sexuality and gender identity.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social and Emotional Wellbeing
13YARN — 13yarn.org.au
24/7 crisis support line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Call 13 92 76.
Wellmob — wellmob.org.au
Online social and emotional wellbeing resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, developed by and for community.
People to Follow and Read
Sometimes the most powerful resources are people sharing their own lived experience or making complex ideas genuinely accessible. These creators and authors are worth exploring.
General Mental Health
Brené Brown — @brenebrown
American researcher, author and podcaster whose work on vulnerability, shame and human connection has reached millions worldwide. Her books The Gifts of Imperfection and Daring Greatly are widely read and genuinely life-changing for many people.
Russ Harris — @drrussharris
Australian psychologist and author of The Happiness Trap, one of the most accessible and practical introductions to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Particularly useful for people struggling with anxiety, stress or difficult emotions.
Neurodivergence
Matilda Boseley — @matildaboseley
Australian journalist and Guardian Australia presenter diagnosed with ADHD at 23. Follow her on Instagram and TikTok, or read her book The Year I Met My Brain — a warm, funny and deeply researched guide to understanding ADHD.
Jessica McCabe — @howtoadhd
American creator behind the YouTube channel How to ADHD, with millions of subscribers worldwide. Her book How to ADHD: An Insider’s Guide to Working with Your Brain is practical, accessible and highly recommended.
Chloe Hayden — @chloeshayden
Australian autistic actor, author and advocate best known for her role in Heartbreak High. Shares strengths-based, affirming content about autism and neurodivergence. Also worth reading her book Different, Not Less.
Dr Megan Anna Neff — @neurodivergent_insights
Neurodivergent psychologist sharing high quality psychoeducation about autism and ADHD, particularly useful for late-diagnosed adults.
Neurowild — @neurowild
ADHDer speech pathologist sharing practical, affirming content about neurodivergent nervous systems and parenting.
Reframing Autism — @reframingautism
Australian organisation run by autistic people, sharing affirming and evidence-informed content about autism and neurodiversity.
For Young People
headspace — @headspace_aus
headspace’s Instagram is a great follow for young people — mental health information, lived experience stories and practical tips presented in a youth-friendly way.
20Talk — @20_talk
An Australian youth mental health charity with a strong social media presence, focused on real, relatable mental health content for young adults. Particularly relevant for young people in regional WA.
A note on Social Media
While the accounts listed above are chosen for their quality and credibility, social media can be an unpredictable space. Misinformation about mental health and neurodivergence is common online and can be difficult to identify — if something sounds too simple, too certain, or too good to be true, it is worth checking. Look for creators who reference evidence and research, and if you are working with a therapist or health professional, they are a great person to run things by.
We recommend following accounts that make you feel informed, understood and uplifted — and unfollowing anything that leaves you feeling worse about yourself. If you ever feel overwhelmed by content you are seeing online, it is okay to take a break and reach out for support.