Mental Health Information Websites
Lifeline
If you are feeling low, depressed or suicidal, or worried about a friend or family member and need immediate help, please contact:
In Australia: Lifeline on 13 11 14
Or Kids Help Line on 1800 55 1800 (if you are under 18 years old) Kidshelp
This website gives information about 'Kids Help Line', which is Australia's only free, confidential and anonymous, 24-hour telephone and online counselling service specifically for young people aged between five and 18. The Kids Help Line number is 1800 55 1800
Reality Check
This is an excellent site made for and by young people made in the ACT. Reality Check aims to help young people make better choices about mental health and to give young people an idea about some of the haziness that surround the issues of recognising when a person has a mental illness. Reality Check was made by blending information and ideas from local young people and stories from local people who live with the experiences of mental illness.
Reachout
Reach Out is a site dedigned for young people, and it includes an interactive game called ROC. Reach Out Central (ROC) is an interactive program that's designed to help young people explore how their thinking, behaviour and feelings all interact with each other.
SANE
SANE Australia is an independent national charity helping people affected by mental illness through campaigning, education and research. SANE also provides a HelplineOnline service. You can use this to ask questions about mental illness and related topics. Enquiries are usually answered within 3 working days. Use Helpline Online for more specific information and referral to support agencies (it is not a counselling service).
SANE conducts innovative programs and campaigns to improve the lives of people living with mental illness, their family and friends. It also operates a busy phone Helpline and website, which have thousands of contacts each year from around Australia. Its All Right
'Its All Right' is the new Sane Australia website for teenagers affected by mental illness.
The Black Dog Institute
A clinical, research and educational body dedicated to improving understanding, diagnosis and treatment of depression and bipolar disorder (formerly called manic depression in severe cases). This website has an exclelent collection of journal articles and new reports about depressive illness.
Beyond Blue
is a national, independent, not-for-profit organisation working to address issues associated with depression, anxiety and related substance misuse disorders in Australia. Genuine participation in all beyondblue programs by people whose lives have been affected by depression and anxiety is a key aspect of beyondblue. Find out more about information and resources relating to issues which affect people living with depression and anxiety, consumer and carer rights, personal experiences and related consumer and carer research initiatives by using the navigation menu of the left. There is also a Beyond Blue youth site - http://www.youthbeyondblue.com/
Carers Australia
This is a comprehensive site for carers of all ages.
Carers NSW
This is a community based group which unites over 400 carer support groups in the state, and also provides research and advocacy services.
You can aslo register online to receive afree carers support kit.
Psychosis Sucks
A Canadian site designed for teenagers, about dealing with psychosis. This site promotes early detection, educates about psychosis and provides direction for seeking help.
The Mental Health Information Service
The Mental Health Information Service provides information in the form of fact sheets and kits on mental fitness, mental disorders and interest topics such as stigma. They also provide a confidential and anonymous helpline for health professionals and the general public.
The Schizophrenia Fellowship of New South Wales
SCHIZOPHRENIA FELLOWSHIP OF NSW supports people with schizophrenia, their families and friends.
The Eating Disorders Support Network.
EATING DISORDERS SUPPORT NETWORK, EDSN Inc (NSW) aims to provide sufferers of eating disorders and their families and friends with up to date information about the various eating disorders and about services and resources to assist recovery.
Australian Federal Government Mental Health Information
The website of the Commonwealth Department of Health & Aging, Mental Health and Special Programs branch, resources and contacts for mental health and suicide.
Multicultural Mental Health Information
The New South Wales Transucltural Mental Health Centre promotes access to mental health services for people from linguistically and culturally diverse backgrounds. It provides translated mental health information (in 14 languages) and information about the organisation.
Somazone
Somazone is an interactive website developed by young people for young people. It addresses health & mental health issues for adolescents.
Climbing the Cliffs of Depression
Climbing the Cliffs of Depression is a guide for teenagers who feel someone they know may be depressed or suicidal. It will also be useful for anyone to learn about depression.
Bluepages
Blue Pages provides information on depression, medications, symptoms and prevention.
Depression Net
This site is a comprehensive resource for Australians with depression and their families and friends for information, help and support.
Here for life.
Understanding suicide before and after. There are also stories about family, school and life.
Mood Gym.
Mood Gym helps identify and overcome problem emotions. Shows how to develop good coping skills for the future so you can enjoy good health.
Young carers
Carers Australia site for young carers, their families and people working with them
CHAMPS
A website for children in the 5 - 12 year age group who have an adult family member with mental illness. CHAMPS began 7 years ago in Melbourne when a group of 8 children met once a week for one school term, to talk about having a mum or dad with a mental illness. CHAMPS stands for CHildren And Mentally ill ParentS. These 8 kids said they found it really helpful, meeting others & getting usefull information. So, CHAMPS groups & activities continued, but only in some parts of Victoria. We hope this website will be just as usefull for YOU! This website has been set up because many people do not understand mental illness, so they do not want to talk about it. We also know that it happens to lots of families so there are many children in many countries who have a family member with a mental illness.
Depression in Pregnancy and Post Natal
Just launched: comprehensive new information on mood disorders during pregnancy and the postnatal period.
Find out about antenatal & postnatal depression, Bipolar Disorder in pregnancy, causes & treatments
Try the self-test for depression during pregnancy
Special resources and links
Beyond Blue Post Natal Depression
Having postnatal depression (PND) can be a frightening and isolating experience. Unfortunately, in Australia there is often stigma attached to women who are not happy following the birth of their child, who feel they are not coping with the demands of motherhood, or who do not instantly bond with, and love, their baby.
The National Post Natal Depresion program aims to address these issues and their website has an excllent range of information including personal accounts from women who have met the challenge of dealing with post natal depression.