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Disability Wiki

Crisis Help: Australia

If you’re in crisis right now, you’re not alone. Help is available immediately, free, and confidential.

⚠️ Content note: This page discusses suicide, abuse, self-harm, and violence. If this is overwhelming right now, you can just call the number below. You don’t have to read everything.

🚨 RIGHT NOW: Call This Number

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Lifeline Australia

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Phone: 13 11 14 (free, 24/7)
Text: 0477 13 11 14
Chat: lifeline.org.au
Hours: 24/7, 365 days a year
Cost: Free (call, text, and chat)

What happens:

  • 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention
  • Australia’s largest crisis support service
  • Confidential and anonymous
  • Trained counselors

Other Crisis Options (Choose What Works for You)

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Mental Health Crisis

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Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 (24/7)

  • Support for anxiety, depression, suicide prevention
  • Phone counselling and webchat
  • Experienced counselors

Lifeline: 13 11 14 (24/7)

  • Mental health and suicide support

Suicidal Thoughts

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Lifeline: 13 11 14 (24/7)

  • Suicide prevention and support

Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467 (24/7)

  • Free professional counselling
  • Phone and online support
  • For people affected by suicide

Abuse or Violence

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1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732 (24/7)

  • National sexual assault and domestic violence hotline
  • Counselling and information
  • Text: 0458 737 732
  • Referrals to support services

1800RESPECT Chat: Available on 1800respect.org.au (24/7)

Youth Crisis (5-25 Years)

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Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800 (24/7)

  • Free confidential counselling
  • Trained counselors
  • For children and young people aged 5-25

LGBTQ+ Crisis

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Lifeline: 13 11 14

  • Affirming support for LGBTQ+ people
  • Non-judgmental

QLife: 1800 184 527 (3pm-midnight daily)

  • Phone and webchat
  • LGBTQ+ peer support

Men’s Crisis

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MensLine Australia: 1300 78 99 78 (24/7)

  • Professional phone and online counselling for men
  • Free, confidential
  • Trained male counselors

Disability-Specific Crisis Support

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Disability Gateway: 1800 643 787

  • Free information and service finder
  • Government support programs
  • Disability support information

People with Disability Australia (PWDA): pwd.org.au

  • Advocacy by and for disabled people
  • Community support

Vision Australia: 1300 84 74 66

  • Support for blind and low vision people
  • Counselling available

Deaf Australia: deafaustralia.org.au

  • Support and advocacy for Deaf people

By State/Territory

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All states use Lifeline 13 11 14 as primary number.

New South Wales

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  • Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636
  • Local Mental Health: 1800 011 511 (Triage)

Victoria

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  • Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636
  • Lifeline: 13 11 14

Queensland

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  • Lifeline: 13 11 14
  • Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636

South Australia

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  • Lifeline: 13 11 14
  • Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636

Western Australia

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  • Lifeline: 13 11 14
  • Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636

Tasmania

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  • Lifeline: 13 11 14
  • Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636

Northern Territory

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  • Lifeline: 13 11 14
  • Crisis: 1800 682 288

Australian Capital Territory

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  • Lifeline: 13 11 14
  • Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636

Emergency: Life-Threatening

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Immediate life-threatening danger:

  • Call 000 for emergency
  • Go to nearest emergency department (ED)

What to Say When You Call

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You don’t need perfect words. Just say:

  • “I’m in crisis”
  • “I’m thinking about suicide”
  • “I need to talk to someone”

Counselors are trained to help.

Accessibility & Contact Methods

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For Deaf/Hard of Hearing

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  • Text services: Lifeline (0477 13 11 14), Kids Helpline (text option available)
  • Chat: Available on most hotline websites
  • TTY relay: Available in some services
  • AUSLAN: Can arrange through relay services

For Blind/Low Vision

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  • All services available by phone
  • Chat available on websites (screen-reader compatible)
  • Large print available on request

For Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander People

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  • All services above serve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
  • Lifeline and Beyond Blue specifically trained for cultural needs

Multiple Languages

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  • Most hotlines offer interpretation services
  • Call ahead if you need language support

After You Call

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Crisis lines help you get through RIGHT NOW. After that:

Finding Ongoing Support

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Contact your GP:

  • General Practitioner can refer to mental health services
  • Ask about Medicare Mental Health Treatment Plans

Find a therapist:

  • Psychology Today: psychologytoday.com.au
  • Australian Counselling Association: theaca.net.au

Mental health services:

  • Contact your local Primary Health Network (PHN)
  • Search: Your state health department website

Important Information

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Cost

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Most services are free (Lifeline’s 13 11 14 call, text, and chat are free), but this varies by service — check each one.

Confidentiality

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These lines are confidential. Emergency services are contacted only in cases of immediate, serious risk.

Hours

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Many services run 24/7, but some (e.g., QLife, 3pm–midnight) have limited hours — check each listing.

You Can Call Multiple Times

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Many people use crisis services multiple times. That’s normal.

You’re Not “Sick Enough” to Call

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If you’re asking: “Am I bad enough to call?” → You are. Call.

Disability Discrimination Is Illegal

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If a service discriminates because of disability, you have rights. Speak up.

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Confirm each number with the service before calling; details can change.

In crisis right now? Call Lifeline on 13 11 14. Everything else can wait.

Cost, confidentiality, and hours vary by service — check each listing.

Contribute to This Page

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Have lived experience or expertise that could strengthen this page? We especially welcome perspectives on models not well represented here, including those from the Global South and Indigenous communities.

Suggest an edit or addition →

This page centers disabled people’s expertise and is informed by disabled-led organizing globally. For questions or to suggest additions, see How to Contribute.