Where to get help

Lifeline – 0800 543 354 (0800 LIFELINE) or free text 4357 (HELP).

Suicide Crisis Helpline – 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO).

Healthline – 0800 611 116

Samaritans – 0800 726 666

Depression Helpline – 0800 111 757 to talk to a trained counsellor 24/7.

Youthline – 0800 376 633, free text 234 or email [email protected] or online chat.

Rainbow Youth – 09 376 4155

Samaritans – 0800 726 666

What’s Up – 0800 942 8787, (for 5–18-year-olds). Phone counselling is available Monday to Friday, 1pm–10pm and weekends, 3pm–10pm. Online chat is available 7pm–10pm daily.

EDANZ (eating disorder help NZ) – 0800 2 EDANZ / 0800 2 33269

Blue Knot Foundation Helpline – 1300 657 380, Monday – Sunday between 9am – 5pm AEST or via email [email protected]. The Blue Knot Foundation is the National Centre of Excellence for Complex Trauma. It provides support, education and resources for the families and communities of adult survivors of childhood trauma and abuse.

Butterfly Foundation’s National Helpline – 1800 33 4673, 8am-midnight AEST  7 days a week, chat online or email. This is a free, confidential service that provides information, counselling and treatment referral for people with eating disorders, and body image and related issues.

eheadspace – 1800 650 890, 9am – 1am AEST / 7 days a week, chat online or email. Provides free online and telephone support and counselling to young people 12 – 25 and their families and friends.

FriendLine – 1800 424 287. Supports anyone who’s feeling lonely, needs to reconnect or just wants a chat. You can call them 7 days a week or chat online with one of their trained volunteers. All conversations with FriendLine are anonymous.

Kids Helpline – 1800 55 1800. Australia’s only free 24/7 confidential and private counselling service specifically for children and young people aged 5 – 25.

Lifeline – 13 11 14, text on 0477 13 11 14 (12pm to midnight AEST) or chat online. Provides 24-hour crisis counselling, support groups and suicide prevention services.

MensLine Australia – 1300 78 99 78, 24 hours/7 days a week, chat online or organise a video chat. MensLine is a professional telephone and online counselling service offering support to Australian men.

MindSpot – 1800 61 44 34. A free telephone and online service for people with anxiety, stress, low mood or depression. It provides online assessment and treatment for anxiety and depression. MindSpot is not an emergency or instant response service.

QLife – 1800 184 527, 3pm – 12am (midnight) AEST/7 days a week. Provides nationwide telephone and web-based services for lesbian peer support and referral for people wanting to talk about a range of issues including sexuality, identity, gender, bodies, feelings or relationships.

PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia) – 1300 726 306, 9am – 7:30pm AEST (Mon-Fri). Supports women, men and families across Australia affected by anxiety and depression during pregnancy and in the first year of parenthood.

SANE Australia – 1800 18 7263, 10am – 10pm AEST (Mon – Fri), or chat online. Provides support to anyone in Australia affected by complex mental health issues, as well as their friends, family members and health professionals.

Suicide Call Back Service – 1300 659 467 for 24/7 support if you or someone you know is feeling suicidal.

Open Arms — Veterans and Families Counselling – 1800 011 046 24/7 for free and confidential counselling to anyone who has served at least one day in the ADF, their partners and families.

If the situation is potentially life-threatening, get immediate emergency assistance by calling 911, available 24 hours a day.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or Live Online Chat. If you or someone you know is suicidal or in emotional distress, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Trained crisis workers are available to talk 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Your confidential and toll-free call goes to the nearest crisis centre in the Lifeline national network. These centres provide crisis counselling and mental health referrals.

SAMHSA Treatment Referral Helpline – 1-877-SAMHSA7 (1-877-726-4727). Get general information on mental health and locate treatment services in your area. Speak to a live person, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST.

In an emergency call 999 or go to your local A&E department

If you’re in crisis and need to speak to someone:

• Call NHS 111 (for when you need help but are not in immediate danger)
• Contact your GP and ask for an emergency appointment
• Contact the Samaritans (details below)
• Use the ‘Shout’ crisis text line – text SHOUT to 85258

Samaritans – 116 123 (free to call from within the UK and Ireland), 24 hours a day. Provides confidential emotional support for people who are experiencing feelings of distress, despair or suicidal thoughts. www.samaritans.org

YoungMinds Parents helpline – 0808 802 5544 (Mon-Fri from 9.30am to 4pm, excluding bank holidays).

YoungMinds Crisis Messenger – text YM to 85258 (available 24/7) www.youngminds.org.uk

SANE – 07984 967 708 and leave a message, giving your first name and a contact number, and someone will call you back as soon as possible. SANE services provide practical help, emotional support and specialist information to individuals affected by mental health problems, their family, friends and carers.

• Support Forum: www.sane.org.uk
• Saneline: 0300 304 7000 (currently unavailable)
• Textcare: http://www.sane.org.uk/what_we_do/support/textcare/

• For residents of Québec – 1 866 APPELLE (1.866.277.3553).
• Visit Crisis Services Canada for the distress centres and crisis organisations nearest you.
• Kids Help Phone –1-800-668-6868 (toll-free) or text CONNECT to 686868. Available 24 hours a day to Canadians aged 5 to 29 who want confidential and anonymous care from trained responders. To access support through Facebook Messenger see the Kids Help Phone website.

Hope for Wellness Help Line –1-855-242-3310 (toll-free) or connect to the online Hope for Wellness chat. Available to all Indigenous peoples across Canada who need immediate crisis intervention. Experienced and culturally sensitive helpline counsellors can help if you want to talk or are distressed. Telephone and online counselling are available in English and French. On request, telephone counselling is also available in Cree, Ojibway and Inuktitut.