Are you experiencing a crisis now?

If you are in contact with a care coordinator or the Acute Care Service you should call them first.

If you are not in regular contact with the Mental Health Service you can call the Mental Health Line.

You are not alone. Call us for help. The NSW Mental Health Line is a free statewide phone service staffed by mental health professionals. It is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

The Mental Health Line can give you advice or put you in contact with local services.

You can attend the emergency department of your local hospital to arrange a mental health assessment.

What is a mental health crisis?

Recovery from mental health problems includes good days and bad days. Lots of people have days where they may be trying to cope with a range of feelings.

Sometimes this becomes a mental health crisis. A mental health crisis can mean many things to many people. A crisis can give some people the motivation to take action and make changes in their life. It may also be when a person’s behaviour stops them from being able to look after themselves or do everyday life activities, if they feel unable to cope, or any time a person’s behaviour puts them at risk of hurting themselves or the people around them.

A mental health crisis can feel overwhelming. If this is happening to you, or someone you care for it’s important to remember your feelings are valid and it’s normal to have hard moments as you recover.

Wellness plans

No one wants to believe that a crisis will happen. Making a plan to help you stay well which includes self care will help increase your resilience during the bad days. This might include breathing exercises, making time for social activities and friends, increasing your mental health support or monitoring your diet, sleep and exercise. Practising self care even on good days will help build you up for the days when it’s not so easy.

It’s helpful to discuss your plan to stay well with trusted family and friends, and your healthcare team.

There are lots of community based organisations that provide excellent crisis support and counselling. Some of these are listed on the next page. You can use any of the crisis helplines below if you, or someone you know, is experiencing a crisis. If you feel like you can’t call any of these numbers or talk to the mental health service, please talk to someone you trust like a family friend or your GP.

Find out more information about mental health at Head to Health - an online gateway to trusted mental health resources and content from Australia’s leading health organisations. You will find information about peer run online support groups here also.

Support services

You can also access these free support services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week:

For more information on crisis support and short-term counselling, see the NSW Health 24/7 crisis lines page.

For a comprehensive list of mental health services and support, visit the NSW Health Mental Health Services and support contact list. This resource includes information on Aboriginal health and multicultural services, as well as specialised services for young people, older adults and veterans.

If you are looking for services in your local area, you can also access the National Health Services Directory.

The Central and Eastern Sydney Primary Health Network (CESPHN) has coordinated a local mental health service directory that helps you navigate what services are available in the local region. 

REACH

If you are concerned about a recent change in your health condition, or the condition of the person you care for, please REACH out. 

We encourage you or your carer to talk to your care coordinator or primary nurse about your concerns. If they are not available, ask to speak to another clinician.

If you are still worried or feel things are getting worse please ask to speak to the team leader or nursing unit manager about your concerns. 

If you are still worried, call us. A mental health clinician will escalate your concerns to a senior manager, who will provide support.

Our partner services

Strategic partnerships between mental health services, other government agencies, community managed organisations and public and private primary care providers are central to delivering effective, integrated and responsive services for people living with a mental health problem, and their families and carers.

Our partnerships are important. We work with some partners who provide great services, including: