Mental health support and counselling

Mental health services

• beyondblue has programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and general information on mental health, including how to recognise depression and where to get help. Phone 1300 22 4636.
• Lifeline offers advice on mental health issues, suicide prevention and how to cope with grief, loss and family business.
• Your local hospital or doctor may be able to help you with counselling and support.
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health program funds Primary Health Networks to engage culturally appropriate mental health services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
• 1300 MH CALL (1300 642255) is a confidential mental health telephone triage service available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to provide the first point of contact to public mental health services in Queensland (including Indigenous Mental Health Workers).

Have a yarn

Have a yarn with:

• other mental health support services to talk about your feelings and get help.
• Indigenous family support and healing groups and others in your mob to try to help reduce the stress of raising children.

Hear how other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are taking action against anxiety and depression on Proppa Deadly.

Community health and legal services

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service (ATSICHS)

ATSICHS Social Health team provides culturally appropriate counselling services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Brisbane affected by mental illness.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (ATSILS)

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (ATSILS) is a community-based organisation established to provide professional and culturally proficient legal services for Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples across Queensland.

Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council (QAIHC)

Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council (QAIHC) improves health, creates jobs and ensures that Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples receive culturally appropriate health care.

Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Legal Services

Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Legal Services is committed to supporting Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples to live free from family violence and sexual assault in Queensland.

Regional and remote support

Australasian Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health runs Deadly Thinking, a  social and emotional well-being and suicide prevention program specifically designed for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Suicide prevention

If you need immediate help, contact:

• Lifeline on 13 11 14
• 13YARN on 13 92 76
• Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 (if you’re under 18 years of age)
• Suicide call back service 1300 659 467 (if you are over 15 years of age).

Support is available through:

• suicide prevention and counselling services
• suicide call back service
• the Brisbane Rape and Incest Survivors Support Centre—for women who have suicidal thoughts as a result of sexual violence or rape.

Support for families and carers

• Caring for somebody with a mental illness.
• Mental Health Carers—ARAFMI (Association of Relatives and Friends of the Mentally Ill) run support groups for anyone caring for a person with mental health issues.
• The Mental Illness Fellowship supports those with mental illness, their families and carers while educating the community about mental health.
• Children of Parents with a Mental Illness.

Helpful links

• What is mental health?
• Find mental health services and support in your area.
• Facts about Indigenous mental health and suicide.
• Rural and Remote Mental Health Deadly Thinking program helps to improve the mental health of Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
• Programs and projects to improve social and emotional wellbeing, including mental health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island peoples.
• Mental Health Court decides the state of mind of people charged with criminal offences
• Mental Health First Aid for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
• MindOUT is a National LGBTI Health Alliance mental health and suicide prevention project.
• The National Mental Health Strategy is a commitment by Australian governments to improve the lives of people with mental illness.
• The Healing Foundation has projects to support community healing and runs events to discuss mental health issues faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.