Beyond Blue
When things are getting too much
There are times when life gets heavy.
You might be dealing with grief, relationship problems, loneliness, work or financial pressure. You might be struggling with anxiety or depression. Or you might simply have reached a point where you know you’re not coping as well as you usually do.
You don’t need to wait until things become a crisis before you talk to someone.
Beyond Blue provides free mental health information, resources and support to people across Australia.
Talk to someone
Beyond Blue’s Support Service provides free, confidential counselling 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
You can call 1300 22 4636 to speak with a counsellor, or use Beyond Blue’s online chat service.
You don’t need to have a diagnosis or a particular reason for calling. You might be having a really bad day, feeling overwhelmed, wondering where to start, or trying to work out how to support someone you care about.
The counsellors will listen and can help you work out what kind of support might be useful.
You don’t have to know exactly what to say.
If you’re supporting someone else
Sometimes the person who needs help isn’t you.
You might be worried about your partner, a family member, a friend or someone at work. It can be difficult to know what to say, particularly when you’re worried about making things worse.
Beyond Blue has resources for people supporting someone experiencing mental health difficulties.
And you can contact the Support Service yourself. You don’t have to wait for the other person to ask for help.
More than a phone line
Beyond Blue has a range of resources you can use in your own time.
There are information and tools covering things such as anxiety, depression, suicide prevention, wellbeing, relationships, financial wellbeing and other situations that can affect mental health.
There are also online forums where you can anonymously read, share and learn from people with lived experience.
If you are looking for ongoing mental health care, Beyond Blue also provides information about different types of mental health professionals and how to find one.
Mental health coaching
Beyond Blue’s NewAccess program offers free mental health coaching for people who are stressed or overwhelmed by everyday life issues.
That might include problems with work, study, relationships, health or loneliness.
The program is designed for people who aren’t currently seeing a psychologist or psychiatrist, and provides practical tools to help you look after your mental health.
Beyond Blue says NewAccess provides six free sessions with a mental health coach.
You don’t have to wait until you’re falling apart
Asking for help can feel like admitting that you aren’t coping.
It isn’t.
Sometimes getting support early is simply a way of making sure things don’t become harder than they need to be.
You don’t have to prove that things are bad enough.
If something isn’t right, that’s enough reason to talk to someone.
If you need help now
For free, confidential counselling, call Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 or use their online chat service. Both are available 24/7.
If you are in an emergency, or at immediate risk of harm to yourself or someone else, call 000.
If you are thinking about suicide or need immediate crisis support, you can also call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
A place to start
Sometimes the hardest part is making the first move.
You don’t need to have the right words. You don’t need to know what kind of help you need.
You can simply say that things aren’t going well and you’d like someone to talk to.
That’s enough to start.
This page is provided by Rest as a starting point, not as a substitute for professional or crisis support. Services and operating hours can change, so check Beyond Blue’s current information before relying on a particular service.