mental health resources

SUICIDE & CRISIS SUPPORT
If you're in an emergency, or at immediate risk of harm to yourself or others, please call emergency services on 000 If you're having a hard time & you're feeling overwhelmed right now, you don't have to handle this alone: A listening ear ready to give support is only a phonecall away - call Lifeline on 13 11 14 any time day or night
Medicare Mental Health Centres offer an easy and accessible first step when you need support. The centres provide a safe and welcoming place for anyone to access free, quality mental health care over extended hours.
You don’t need an appointment or referral to visit these centres. You don’t even need a Medicare card to access services; help is available to everyone living in Australia, regardless of citizenship status.
As well as offering free, immediate, short and medium-term care, centres can also connect you with other services that can support you in the future, from health and mental health to social services such as employment and housing.
Click here to find your nearest Medicare Mental Health Centre. Locally, we have centres at Penrith, Parramatta, and Richmond.

More Crisis support

  • Child Protection Helpline (to report child abuse or neglect - 24/7) 13 21 11
  • NSW Sexual Violence Helpline (24/7) 1800 424 017
  • NSW Ageing and Disability Abuse Helpline 1800 628 221
  • Domestic Violence Line (for help for domestic and family violence) 1800 656 463
  • Another Closet – services and Information on violence in gay and lesbian relationships
  • Rainbow Sexual, Domestic and Family Violence Helpline 1800 497 212
  • Kids Helpine (for kids' conselling) 1800 551 800
  • Mental Health Access Line (for mental health crisis support) 1800 011 511
  • Rape Crisis Centre (for counselling and information for men and women) 1800 424 017
  • Suicide Call Back Service (for counselling and support service) 1300 659 467
  • Relationships Australia - 02 9418 8800 or 1300 364 277
  • Salvo Care Line - 02 9331 6000
  • Salvo Crisis Line: 02 9331 2000 - suicide prevention 24 hour Homelessness
  • Aboriginal Homeless People Service 02 9799 8446
  • Homeless Persons Information Service 02 9265 9081
  • Platform Youth Services - supporting young people with homelessness aged 12 - 25 in the Blue Mountains, Penrith & Hawkesbury regions
  • Link2home (for homelessness information) 1800 152 152
  • Link2Home - Veterans & Ex-Servicemen 1800 326 989 Financial Support
  • Centrelink – Family and parenting payments: 13 61 50
  • Child Support Agency Australia: 131 272 - help for separated parents over financial support of their children
  • CreditLine: 1800 808 488 - financial advice and referral, 9.30am-4.30pm Mon-Fri

MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT

  • Blue Mountains Safe Space for Suicide Prevention - a non-clinical space where people experiencing suicidal thoughts can find support.
  • Aftercare (for psychosocial support) 0429 046 925
  • Beyond Blue (for mental health information and support) 1800 656 463
  • The Butterfly Association (support for eating disorders) 1800 551 800
  • eheadspace (free online & telephone mental health support for young people) 1800 152 152
  • headspace Lithgow (free face-to-face mental health support for young people) 02 6352 7600
  • headspace Penrith(free face-to-face mental health support for young people) 02 4720 8800
  • MensLine Australia (counselling for men with family & relationship concerns) 1300 789 978
  • Mindspot (free telephone & online service for adults with anxiety and depression) 1800 614 434
  • Neami National (group program for people with emerging mental health concerns) 8416 1190
  • NewAccess (free coaching for depression & anxiety - Lithgow & Hawkesbury only) 6333 2838
  • QLife (LGBTQI Counselling) 1800 184 527
  • Relationships Australia 1300 364 277
  • Veterans & Veterans' Family Counselling Services (VVCS) 1800 011 046
  • 13YARN - (24 hours/7 days) Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Crisis Support 13 92 76
  • Youth Early Support Service (YESS) (Mental health outreach service for youth) 4720 8811
  • 1800 Respect (sexual assault and family/domestic violence counselling) 1800 737 732

ALCOHOL, DRUGS & GAMBLING

  • Adele House (residential rehabilitation program for men) 1300 286 693
  • Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) (support for men and women for alcohol misuse concerns) 1300 222 222
  • Al-Anon Family Groups (advice for family & friends of people with addiction) 1300 252 666
  • Alcohol & Drug Information Service (ADIS) (24 hour support line) 1800 250 615
  • Dianella Cottage (non-residential drug and alcohol service for men & women) 4782 9265
  • Drug & Alcohol Helpline (free online counselling & informations service) 1800 422 599
  • NBM Drug & Alcohol Service (central intake, assessment & treatment) 1300 661 050
  • Family Drug Support (FDS) (Support for people with a drug dependence) 1300 858 584
  • Gambling Help (free & confidential support) 1800 858 858
  • Narcotics Anonymous (for recovering addicts) 1300 652 820

free services available in our local community


For many individuals and families, private psychology services are simply unaffordable. If this is the case for you, please do consider contacting these mental health services which offer free counselling and are all within a one hour drive of the upper mountains:- headspace Lithgow (free mental health support for young people aged 12 - 25 years ) 02 6352 7600 headspace Penrith (free mental health support for young people aged 12 - 25 years) 02 4720 8800 LikeMind Penrith (free mental health support for adults) 02 8880 8111
 ________________________________________NewAccess, developed by Beyond Blue, is a free mental health coaching program for anyone aged 16 and over who’s stressed, or feeling anxious or overwhelmed about everyday life issues, such as work, study, relationships and loneliness.
How does NewAccess work?Everyone needs some guidance at some point in their lives, and NewAccess aims to coach you through the tough times and make it easier for you to get support. NewAccess coaches are local people, trained in Low Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Over six sessions your NewAccess coach will work with you to understand the issues causing your distress. They support you to overcome difficult issues and regain confidence, providing you with practical skills to manage your stress and get back to feeling like yourself. NewAccess is NOT a crisis service. It is an early intervention program designed to support people early and prevent potential crises down the track.
How do I access the program?NewAccess is a confidential and free program for people in Western NSW as well as Lithgow, Hawkesbury, the Blue Mountains and Nepean regions, over the age of 16. It is available over the phone or face-to-face.
You don’t need a medical referral or Mental Health Treatment Plan to access the program.To find out more about NewAccess, visit their website or call 02 6333 2838 during business hours.More information• Call us on 02 6333 2838• Email us at newaccess@marathonhealth.com.au• Visit the Beyond Blue websiteThis service is supported by the Western NSW Primary Health Network and the Nepean Blue Mountains Primary Health Network.For other free counselling services, visit the Mental Health Navigation Tool provided by Nepean Blue Mountains Partners in Recovery.