If you need urgent support, please call:
Lifeline – 13 11 14
Available 24 hours 7 days a week.
Lifeline is a confidential service providing support to anyone in Australia who is feeling overwhelmed, having difficulty coping or thinking about suicide.
ACT Crisis Assessment and Treatment Team – 1800 629 354
Available 24 hours 7 days a week.
Access Mental Health offer mental health services if you need immediate support and assistance. They will help you work out which services can best help. This could be the doctor, a hospital emergency department, or a community mental health service.
Lifeline
13 11 14
SANE Australia
1800 187 263
Beyond Blue
1300 224 636
National domestic, family and sexual violence counselling
1800 737 732 (1800 RESPECT)
Witness to War National Multilingual Hotline
1800 845 198
Taking care of our mental health is just as important as looking after our physical health. Your mental health and wellbeing influence how you think, feel, and behave in daily life. Looking after our mental health allows us to live life in a positive and meaningful way.
It helps us to work or study to our full potential, cope with day-to-day life stresses and be involved in the community. If you are not feeling well, there is no shame in asking for help. In fact, seeking help takes courage and can make a big difference for you and those around you.
I need help with my mental health, what do I do?
If you need immediate help call ACT Crisis Assessment and Treatment Team on 1800 629 354.
If you are looking for ongoing care, you should start with your GP. You can explain your symptoms, history and needs and your GP will make an assessment. If eligible they will be able to give you a Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP).
The Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) will include a referral to a psychologist, counsellor or other specialist. If you are eligible for Medicare, it also allows you to claim up to 10 individual and 10 group sessions per calendar year.
What is the difference between a psychologist, counsellor and psychiatrist
Part of getting the best treatment for you is knowing who the most appropriate people to talk to are. Counsellors, psychologists and psychiatrists have different levels of training and qualifications, as well as varying roles and responsibilities within their registration requirements.
Qualifications: Varies from diploma, degree or certification.
What can they do: Provide guidance, help with coping strategies, and help you understand yourself and your goals.
Costs: Medicare does not cover counselling sessions. Counsellors will charge fees.
Qualifications: Mental health professional with university qualifications and training in clinical skills to evaluate and treat mental health.
What can they do: Conduct assessments of various mental health conditions, conduct evidence-based therapy, help people learn how to process and cope with life, work, relationships and mental health conditions.
Costs: Sessions may be partially or fully covered if you have a Mental Health Treatment Plan with your GP. It is likely there will be an out of pocket cost.
Qualifications: Medical doctors who are experts in mental health.
What can they do: Diagnose illness and mange treatments including being able to prescribe medicine.
Costs: Session may be partially or fully covered if you have a Mental Health Treatment Plan with your GP.
It is likely there will be an out of pocket cost.
Find a Psychologist here.
What will it cost?
When you see a Psychologist or Psychiatrist, there will be a cost associated. If you have a MHTP and have Medicare, you will get a rebate, but you will likely have to pay an out-of-pocket cost.
If you have private health insurance, you may be able to claim some of the fees depending on your cover.
If you attend a Medicare Mental Health Centre, there will be no cost and you do not need to have a Medicare card to attend.
When you make your appointment, remember that you should ask:
What are some common types of therapy?
When seeking help, it is helpful to understand different types of treatments that are used by mental health professionals. There are some common ones listed below, and you can talk about these and other options with your GP or psychologist.
CBT is a talking therapy that focuses on how your through and beliefs affect your actions, and how you feel. It is usual to focus on a situation that you find difficult and then work through how your feel, how you might behave and your thoughts. You will then be provided strategies and skills to help you change those thoughts and feelings. For more information visit Healthdirect or Lifeline.
EMDR is used to treat emotional distress caused by trauma or difficult memories. It is a guided therapy that allows the reorganisation of the memory. For more information visit the Lifeline website.
Trauma focused therapies are psychological interventions which focus on education, management techniques and confronting distressing memories or feared situations.
Medicare Mental Health Centres
Medicare Mental Health Centres offer immediate support for people in distress including their family and carers. The ACT has 2 Medical Mental Health Centres in Tuggeranong and the City.
You do not need to have a Medicare card, and you can walk in without an appointment (you may need to wait a short amount of time for a intake staff member to be available).
