Getting help

Helpful links

Searching for information on the Internet can be difficult and time-consuming. Here we aim to take out some of the hard work by providing links to organisations and websites which we believe provide good quality and useful information, broken into the different categories.

The list below represents more than a year's work of exploring, researching and evaluating other web sites, resulting in a refined set of links to Australian and international sites, smoothing your task of looking for further and more-in-depth material. (Sites and organisations are Australian unless otherwise stated.)

General

  • ABC Health Matters - a website that provides general health information, including library pages on anxiety and depression. Also links to relevant transcipts from ABC radio and TV programs.
  • American Association of Geriatric Psychiatry - a US website providing information and resources for adults coping with mental health issues and ageing.
  • Auseinet, the Australian Network for Promotion, Prevention and Early Intervention for Mental Health, is a Commonwealth Government funded organisation. Its website provides a searchable database of resources relating to mental health and wellbeing.
  • Australian Infant, Child, Adolescent and Family Mental Health Association - This association aims to actively promote the mental health and well being of infants, children, adolescents and their families and/or carers in Australia.
  • Better Health Channel - a website established by the Victorian Government. It aims to provide reliable, accurate, quality-assured and locally relevant information. The site is searchable by topic.
  • CAN (Mental Health) Inc - an independent, not for profit, consumer-run organisation for people with a mental illness. It offers, amongst other things, a national telephone peer support line for mental health consumers.
  • Centre for Mental Health (NSW Government) - the unit within the NSW Health Department that deals with mental health service delivery in NSW. A range of useful publications is accessible via the website.
  • Changing Minds - this website is run by the Mental Health Association of NSW and is intended to help promote positive mental health and wellbeing in a fun, interactive and informative way. The site is targeted to the Australian community at large.
  • Children of Parents with a Mental Illness - a resource centre for information relating to the care and management of families where a parent has a mental illness. The information on the site has been designed to meet the needs of workers in specific fields.
  • DIPEx.org - The DIPEx website (UK) is devoted to personal experiences of health and illness. There is a comprehensive section on depression where you can watch, listen to or read other people's stories.
  • HealthInsite - a Commonwealth Government website that provides quality information on a wide range of health topics, including mental health.
  • InfraPsych Australia is a company that provides online support to psychiatric patients, caregivers and professionals. Its website contains information on a range of mental health topics.
  • LiFe (Living is for Everyone) - a website managed by Auseinet and funded by the Department of Health and Ageing.
  • Mayo Clinic - this US website provides information about general diseases and advice on taking charge of your own health, plus news items of health interest and answers to questions put to specialists.
  • Mental Health and Wellbeing, Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care. Contains information on policy initiatives, current campaigns and publications.
  • Mental Health Association NSW - this organisation provides a website containing publications on a wide range of mental health topics and links to other services, such as support groups. It also provides information over the telephone and via email through its Information Service - (02) 9816 5688.
  • Mental Health Coordinating Council (MHCC) is the peak body for non-government organisations (NGOs) working for mental health throughout NSW. They facilitate effective linkages between the government, non-government and private sectors acting as the liaison body representing the views of the organisations that form their membership.
  • Mental Help Net - a privately established US website aimed at providing free information to the world-wide mental health community. It provides resources and information on a wide range of mental health topics.
  • SANE Australia - a charity that helps people suffering from mental illness and their families. It produces a range of publications and videos and provides a telephone information service and an online help service. Ph: 1800 18 SANE (7263)
  • US National Institute of Mental Health - a component within the US Government's National Institute of Health. Information on its website includes information on mental disorders, news of clinical trials, statistics and research fact sheets.

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Depression

  • depressioNet - offers a unique interactive framework which offers moderated 24/7 peer-to-peer support as well as comprehensive information and resources that are focused on all things depression related. depressioNet’s Message Board and Chat allow people living with depression to share experiences and give and receive support and encouragement.
  • beyondblue - a national organisation devoted to increasing awareness and understanding of depression in the community. Its website contains useful depression resources (including people's personal experiences of depression) and information on current initiatives.
  • Depression and Mood Disorders Association of NSW (DMDA) - an organisation dedicated to helping people with depression and mood disorders, their families and friends. The DMDA website contains a range of informative articles and publications and contact details for support groups for people with mood disorders.
  • BluePages - a depression website provided by the Centre for Mental Health Research at the Australian National University & CSIRO Mathematical & Information Sciences (CMIS) . Provides many useful resources
  • MoodGYM Training Program - a free online cognitive behaviour therapy program provided by the Centre for Mental Health Research
  • Managing Depression Intelligently - a US website, content developed by Dr Michael Yapko, author of some good quality books on depression and related topics.
  • MindBodyLife - a website provided by the pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly devoted to helping people with mental illness optimise their lifestyle.
  • Dr Ivan's Depression Central - a US site that aims to operate as a `clearinghouse' for information about major depression, manic depression (Bipolar Disorder), cyclothymia, dysthymia and other mood disorders and their effective treatment.
  • Scientific American - this US site carries a comprehensive article on the neurobiology of depression.
  • The Blue Hat project - this project was conceived by Waltraud Reiner, a milliner with personal experience of depression and a wish to use the creativity behind hat design as a means of raising awareness of depression and anxiety in the community.
  • Working Well - offers information, help and peer-based support to people living with depression in the workplace.

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Bipolar Disorder

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Borderline Personality Disorder

  • BPDWORLD (UK): focus on borderline personality disorder but includes other information on topics such as depression, self-harm, anxiety and more. The site offers forums, users chat room, journals/blogs and email support.

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Anxiety Disorders

  • Anxiety Disorders Alliance - a state-wide organisation providing support and services to people with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), social phobia, specific phobia, panic disorder, agoraphobia, generalised anxiety disorder and post traumatic stress disorder. It provides information and resources, and runs a number of support groups. Ph: 9570 4519 or toll free 1800 626 055.
  • Clinical Research Unit for Anxiety and Depression, located at St Vincent 's Hospital (NSW). Provides useful self-help information for a range of anxiety and related disorders.
  • Macquarie University Anxiety Research Unit (MUARU), located in North Ryde. They offer programs for anxiety disorders for children, adolescents and adults. They mainly offer group programs, however private sessions with clinicians and some self-help/home-based treatments are available. For more information , or to become involved, call the clinic on (02) 9850 8711, Monday-Thursday 9am - 8:30pm, Friday 9am - 5pm.

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Adolescents and young people

  • Reach Out! - a website specially designed for young people, aimed at improving mental health in young people. It provides support, information and referrals.
  • Kids Help Line - a website with information and support for young people aged between 5-18 years. Also provides an Australia-wide telephone counselling service as well as online counselling. (For telephone counselling call: 1800 55 1800.)
  • YBBLUE - a website to help young people (aged between 18-25 years) and their families and friends deal with depression. Developed as part of a national community awareness campaign to reduce stigma associated with depression and encourage young people to seek help. The website has information about warning signs, how to communicate about depression, and how to seek help.
  • headspace - headspace is Australia's National Youth Mental Health Foundation. Their website contains details of headspace centres around Australia where young people aged 12-25 can get help for a range of health issues including mental health and drug and alcohol problems. 
  • Itsallright- Diaries of four fictional teenagers touched by mental illness; factsheets, Helpline Online on mental illness including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression and anxiety disorders.
  • Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation - Site on Bipolar Disorder in children and adolescents. Good information for professionals with audio/lectures from experts on treatment issues. (American site)
  • Embrace the Future - an information site for young australians mental health and well-being. The program was developed in collaboration with young people to educate young people from 10 to 24 years of age in 'Skills & Strategies to assist in the Development & Maintenance of Positive Mental Health & Well-being'. Provides information about risk factors, tips on effective coping, & identifying warning signs.
  • Anika Foundation - The Anika foundation is a non-profit organisation supporting research into teenage and adolescent depression. The site includes a virtual gallery of Anika's artworks, some examples of her poetry, photos, and general information on teenage and adolescent depression.

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Men

  • Real Men. Real depression. US National Institute of Mental Health - a site devoted to men and depression.
  • Dads in Distress - a dedicated support group of men (in Australia) whose immediate concern is to stem the current trend of suicide due to the trauma of divorce or separation. The site contains details of support groups all around Australia.

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Pregnancy and postnatal

See many more pregnancy and postnatal links (including interstate contacts and details of support groups) in our perinatal depression section

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Carers

  • Carers NSW - a NSW-based organisation specifically devoted to carers. It provides resources, Carer Support kits, and a range of support services including support groups. Telephone information, advice and referral is provided through the Commonwealth Carer Resource Centre: 1800 242 636.
  • Carers Australia - a body advocating for the needs and interests of carers at the national level. Among its other activities it provides a range of information and education resources and conducts community awareness raising.
  • ARAFMI NSW - (Association of Relatives and Friends of the Mentally Ill) - an organisation dedicated to carers of people with a mental illness. Provides support and support groups for carers and a 24 hour telephone information line: (02) 9805 1883 or Toll Free 1800 655 198 (NSW only) .
  • Young Carers - this website provides important information and contacts for young carers, along with opportunities to express your opinions and provide feedback. There is an online young carers plan to complete and keep on hand in case of an emergency, and there are games for when you feel like chilling out for a while.
  • Carers Matter - Queensland Health has just launched a this website which was designed and developed in collaboration with families and carers of people with a mental illness. The website provides information and resources to assist families and carers fulfill their vital role.

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Non-English Speaking people

  • Multicultural Mental Health - a national body dealing with multicultural mental health and suicide prevention. Its website provides information and resources in a large number of community languages.
  • Transcultural Mental Health Centre - an organisation that is dedicated to the mental health of non-English speaking people. It p rovides support and clinical services, support groups, education and training, a library, publications, and a toll free telephone information service: 1800 648 911 (Monday-Friday 8.30am-5.30pm). An after hours contact is also available through this number.

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Rural mental health

  • Just Ask - Lifeline's rural mental health information service. It provides a telephone counselling service and information.

 

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