Meridian is NOT a crisis service.
We are an appointment-based service and we only respond to enquiries during normal business hours – 9:00am to 4:00pm, Monday to Friday.
For specialised diagnostic needs and acute mental health care requirements, please speak with your GP or contact ACCESS Mental Health.
If you, or someone you know is in crisis please call the numbers below:
In an emergency, always contact 000.
Access Mental Health
Open 24/7. These services give you access to assessment and treatment services and offer advice and information on a range of mental health issues. Mental health emergency access and support.
1800 629 354 or 02 6205 1065
QLIFE
Free telephone and web based counselling, referrals and support for LGBTQI+ people and their families.
3pm – 12am every day.
1800 184 527
www.qlife.org.au
Lifeline
National crisis and suicide prevention telephone counselling, 24 hours/day, 7 days/week.
13 11 14
www.lifeline.org.au
13YARN
Confidential one-on-one yarning opportunity with a Lifeline-trained Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporter who can provide crisis support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
13 92 76
www.13yarn.org.au/about-us
Suicide Call Back Service
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Phone crisis counselling and support, ages 15 plus
Crisis support for people who are suicidal, carers of someone who is suicidal and people bereaved by suicide. The Suicide Call Back Service provides immediate telephone support in a crisis and can provide up to 6 further telephone counselling sessions with the same counsellor.
1300 659 467
www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au
beyondblue Support Service
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Phone support, for all ages
Support, information and advice over the phone, for concerns big and small. beyondblue also have an online chat service available between 3pm and midnight, 7 days a week and an email service.
1300 22 4636
www.beyondblue.org.au/
Domestic Violence Crisis Service
Open 24/7. Provides support to anyone impacted by intimate partner, domestic and family violence, regardless of age, sexuality or gender. Crisis assistance.
(02) 6280 0900
www.dvcs.org.au
No to Violence
Advice and counselling for men who use family violence to change their abusive and violent behaviour.
1300 766 491
www.ntv.org.au/
Onelink
OneLink provides information and connections for support services in the ACT, including services for families and young people, and services for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
1800 176 468
Canberra Rape Crisis Service
Crisis and counselling telephone support service: 7am – 11pm.
6247 2525
Alcohol & Drug Information Service
24-hour information, advice, & support for those affected directly or indirectly by drug & alcohol issues.
6207 9977
www.canberrahealthservices.act.gov.au/services-and-clinics/alcohol-and-drug-services
For those aged under 25, there are also the following services available:
Kids Helpline
Open 24/7. Online and phone counselling service for young people aged 12 to 25.
1800 551 800
www.kidshelpline.com.au
Eheadspace
Free online and telephone support and counselling to young people 12 – 25 and their families and friends.
1800 650 890
www.eheadspace.org.au
The Junction Youth Health Service
Free health service for people 12 – 25 years (includes counselling)
6232 2423
[email protected]
LGBTIQ Specific Services
These services are only available to call during office hours, unless otherwise specified.
Say It Loud
LGBTIQ+ domestic and family violence help and support
https://sayitoutloud.org.au/?state=ACT
A Gender Agenda (AGA)
Provides direct and peer support and advocacy for members of the trans, gender diverse and intersex communities and their families.
(02) 9569 2366
https://genderrights.org.au/
OII Australia – Intersex Australia
Provides information, education and peer support for intersex people nation-wide.
www.oii.org.au
Another Closet
For information and referral details on LGBTIQ domestic and family violence.
www.anothercloset.com.au
PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays)
pflagaustralia.org.au/about
Other Support Services
1800RESPECT Helpline
Information and support for anyone in Australia experiencing DFV or sexual assault, 24 hours/day, 7 days/ week. The website has an LGBTIQ specific information section.
1800 737 732
www.1800respect.org.au
Rape and Domestic Violence Services Australia
24/7 telephone and online crisis counselling service for anyone in ACT who has experienced or is at risk of sexual assault and their non offending supporters.
1800 943 539
www.rape-dvservices.org.au/resources/statistics-research/sexual-violence-and-the-law-in-your-statewww.nswrapecrisis.com.au
RSPCA – Safe Beds for Pets
Provides temporary safe housing for pets of LGBTIQ people who are escaping domestic violence.
(02) 9782 4408
www.rspca-act.org.au/
Mensline
Australian wide telephone counselling (6 sessions) and referrals for men (GBTI inclusive).
1300 789 978
www.mensline.org.au
SANE Helpline
9am-5pm, weekdays
Information and referrals
The SANE Help Centre provides information, guidance and referrals for people living with a mental illness and their families and carers. They also have an online chat service available 9am-5pm weekdays and an email service.
1800 18 7263
www.sane.org/
EveryMan is an organisation focused on men's issues.
We support men who are at risk of homelessness, living with mental health issues like depression or anxiety, living with disabilities, men who are perpetrators or survivors of violence, men who are ex-prisoners, socially isolated, or having relationship or parenting difficulties.
02 6230 6999
ADACAS (ACT Disability Aged Carer Advocacy Service)
Free advocacy and information to people with a disability, people experiencing mental ill health, older people and carers.
Ph: 02 6242 5060
Email: [email protected]
ACT Women's Health Service
Nursing, counselling & medical support for women.
6205 1078
www.health.act.gov.au
Directions ACT
Drug & alcohol support & counselling service
6122 8000
www.directionshealth.com
HealthDirect
24/7 medical and health advice line staffed by registered nurses.
1800 022 222 or 6207 7777
www.healthdirect.gov.au/
Victim Support ACT
Free and confidential support and information for victims who have experience crime in the ACT. The service also assists family members of a person who has died as a result of a crime, and people wh have witnessed a crime. Support can be accessed any time after the incident, and the crime does not have to have been reported to police. Support can include counselling, physical therapies and other rehabilitation services.
1800 822 272 or (02) 6205 2066
www.victimsupport.act.gov.au
Organisations that can assist carers:
Mental Health Carers ARAFMI Australia
www.arafmiaustralia.asn.au
Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia
www.mifa.org.au
Children of Parents with a Mental Illness (COPMI)
www.copmi.net.au
The Australian Government site on mental health
www.mentalhealth.gov.au
Department of Health and Ageing
www.health.gov.au
Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Program
This program offers information and advice to link you into ACT’s community care services, including household help, home modification, aged-care homes and much more.
1800 052222
Carer Advisory Service
Available during business hours. Short term counselling services, for carers. This service provides information and advice about carer supports and services. It is also the number for the National Carer Counselling Program, which provides short-term counselling specifically for carers; you can make an appointment by calling this number. For more information search “Carers Australia” or “Carers ACT”.
1800 242 636 (free call from landline)
Carer Gateway & Emergency Respite
Calling this number between 9-5 will connect you with the local Carer Gateway service delivery provider in the relevant State or Territory region that you are calling from. If you are calling from the ACT, please select Option 1 and you will be transferred to Carers ACT. You can call this number 24 hours a day and press 1 to arrange Emergency respite.
1800 422 737
Carers ACT
www.carersact.org.au
02 9296 9900
PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays)
pflagaustralia.org.au/about
ADACAS (ACT Disability Aged Carer Advocacy Service)
Free advocacy and information to people with a disability, people experiencing mental ill health, older people and carers.
02 6242 5060
[email protected]