Mental Health ServicesMental Illness Fellowship
www.mifellowship.org
This website is for anyone affected by a mental illness and includes opportunities to volunteer and support campaigns, fact sheets, a helpline (with a call back service for country callers), a magazine and newsletter.
SANE Australia
www.sane.org
SANE Australia Helpline 1800 68 83 82
9am- 5pm, Monday to Friday
Sane is a service that campaigns for improved attitudes towards and services for people affected by mental illness. The site provides information and resources, an online bookshop, a helpline, an e-mail update service, and ‘Stigmawatch’ which reports on examples of negative and positive portrayals of mental illness in the media. Information and advice is available on the helpline for anyone affected by mental illness. You can also request a free InfoPack.
Department of Human Services - Mental Health
www.health.vic.gov.au/mentalhealth/services
This is a Victorian government website from the Department of Human Services. It includes contact details, maps and descriptions of mental health services, including state-wide, specialist and forensic (related to the court) services and a link to another DHS website – Drugs and related services. This is a good practical site.
Mental Health Advice Line 1300 280 737 (state-wide)
24 hours a day, seven days a week
The Mental Health Advice Line provides immediate mental health advice from a registered mental health professional. This one number from anywhere in Victoria provides fast access to clear expert advice, referral and information about all mental health issues.
Note: Calls from anywhere in Victoria are charged at the cost of a local call (mobile phones may be charged at a higher rate).
Mensline Australia 1300 78 99 78
24 hours a day, seven days a week
Mensline Australia is a dedicated service for men with relationship and family concerns. It is confidential and anonymous. For the cost of a local call (except mobiles), it operates Australia-wide using trained professionals, and is available to all men.
Inner Urban East Psychiatric Triage 1300 558 862
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
This service offers information, assessment and referral for people with suspected mental health issues.
Suicide Helpline Victoria 1300 651 251
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
The Suicide Helpline is for people who are thinking about suicide, for those who are worried about someone else and for those who have been affected by suicidal behaviour. It operates with qualified paid staff and volunteers, who receive training and supervision
DEPRESSION/BIPOLAR:
beyondblue
www.beyondblue.org.au
Information line: 1300 22 4636
This national website provides a range of resources covering depression, anxiety, bipolar mood disorder and postnatal depression including symptom checklists, information & research, resources, links to other sites, referrals and resources in 27 languages.
DepressionNet
www.depnet.com.au
This site provides a space for people affected by depression and anxiety to exchange ideas and experiences, and get information and support. It is a way of connecting up with people who have some understanding of what someone with depression or anxiety (or both) might be feeling and this is done in a variety of ways including a chat room, an online diary and a gallery of art work. It also includes practical information for relatives and friends including how they can help.
Black Dog Institute
www.blackdoginstitute.org.au
Black Dog Institute is a educational and research facility offering expertise in depression and bipolar disorder with pages for the general public and for health professionals. It includes fact sheets, mood charts, training opportunities, information about clinics and some unusual touches, such as ‘e-cards’ for depression (sending someone a card to acknowledge what they are feeling.
Bipolar Mood Disorder
www.bipolar.com.au
This website includes a self assessment questionnaire (online or downloadable), information, resources eg. a mood diary that can be downloaded, information for friends and relatives and a newsletter.
ANXIETY:
Anxiety Recovery Centre
www.arcvic.com.au
This website has information about ARCVic and its services, information about anxiety disorders recommended links to other sites and a contact number to get help. ARCVic is a state-wide, specialist mental health organisation that provides support, recovery and educational services to people and families living with anxiety disorders. The site also offers information about support groups, a social group, a pen pal service and a group to support OCD family and carers.
Anxiety Disorders Association of Victoria
www.adavic.org
This site provides support and information for people with anxiety or depression. It includes personal stories, a discussion board, referral information, factsheets, social events, reviews and information about workshops, lectures and community programs, an online store, interactive resources for adolescents and self help resources.
Anxiety Australia
www.anxietyaustralia.com.au
Information about a variety of anxiety disorders is on this site, including a large number of anxiety-related links that are divided according to topic, plus information about the different types of anxiety, treatment and a psychologist referral service.
YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH:
Headspace
www.headspace.org.au
This is a modern, colourful, multimedia website created particularly for young people and has a lot of information relevant to them including general information, information about where to get help, events, news, downloads and stories.
EATING DISORDERS:
Eating Disorders Foundation of Victoria
www.eatingdisorders.org.au
Helpline (03) 9885 0318 or 1300 550 236 (toll free)
Monday, to Friday from 9.30am to 5.00pm
This website provides information, advocacy, recovery stories, information about signs and symptoms, treatment options, an online shop, links to relevant sites, and different sections for people with an eating disorder, carers, friends, family and professionals.
