Phone and chat services for just about everything


Overview: One great thing that the digital age has enabled is access to support for different issues via phone and chat. In this post we maintain a list of phone and chat support services that you can access here in Australia. You may find the scope and breadth of what is offered impressive.


When I started in this job, one of my tasks was to scope all of the online and telephone chat services that are available for students (and indeed any member of the public) to use.

I was honestly surprised at the range of telephone and chat support services that are now available.

There are now phone and chat services for:

  • those in crisis
  • men
  • people who just want someone to talk to
  • those struggling with mental health issues
  • those who have been affected by sexual assault, domestic or family violence or trauma
  • LGBTIQA people
  • those struggling with an eating disorder
  • veterans and defence personnel
  • people trying to quit smoking
  • individuals affected by gambling addiction
  • parents
  • individuals affected by drug and alcohol addiction
  • those with cancer and their family and friends
  • those struggling with study or work issues
  • people trying to make difficult decisions
  • those affected by road trauma
  • those affected by suicide
  • specific cultural and religious communities
  • individuals seeking out mental health programs and services

I continue to keep track of them. You will find the current list below.

If you are looking for support, this list is worth a look, alongside our community services and Flinders services lists as well.

Phone and chat services appeal to people who have a specific concern they want to talk about but are a little overwhelmed at seeing someone face-to-face.

Phone and chat services are often also available beyond usual business hours and don’t require travel to access them.

Also, remember that Flinders has an Out of Hours Crisis Line as well that is available to students.

Crisis Support

Flinders Crisis Line – Out-of-hours confidential support for Flinders students in distress – call 1300 512 409 or text 0488 884 103 – from 5.00pm to 9.00am M to F, weekends, public holidays

Lifeline – telephone and online counselling for people experiencing a personal crisis – call 13 11 14 (24 hours, 7 days a week) or visit https://www.lifeline.org.au/ for chat services (7.00pm to Midnight, 7 days)

Beyond Blue Support Service – Telephone, online and email counselling for people going through a tough time – call 1300 22 4636 (24 hours, 7 days a week), chat online (3pm to 12am, 7 days a week) – https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/get-immediate-support

Suicide Call Back Service – nationwide service providing professional 24/7 telephone and online counselling to people who are affected by suicide – call 1300 659 467 or visit website for online chat – https://www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au/  – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Samaritans Crisis Line – 24/7 anonymous crisis support for Australians dealing with feelings of depression, sadness, loneliness and despair – call 135 247 – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – https://thesamaritans.org.au/get-help-support/

13YARN – 24/7 confidential crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders – https://www.13yarn.org.au/

 

For men

Mensline – telephone and online counselling service for men with family and relationship concerns – call 1300 78 99 78 (24 hours, 7 days a week), online chat – https://mensline.org.au/phone-and-online-counselling/

Changing for Good – a program to help men stop using violence in their family and relationships – call 1300 015 120 or visit website https://www.changingforgood.org.au

Men’s Referral Service – Advice for men about family violence – call 1300 766 49 or visit https://ntv.org.au/get-help/

 

Just someone to talk to

7 Cups – free anonymous and confidential online text chat with trained listeners – https://www.7cups.com/

Kids Helpline – someone to chat to, anytime, any reason (ages 18-25) – call 1800 55 1800 or visit the site for messenger chat – https://kidshelpline.com.au/young-adults

TalkLife – a safe place to chat about anything – https://talklife.co/ – apps for Android and Apple

Friendline – A national support line “ready for a cuppa and a conversation” with trained volunteers – call 1800 424 287 – https://www.friendline.org.au/

eFriend – eFriend is for anyone aged 18 and over who is feeling down, stressed, lonely, isolated or worried – https://efriend.org.au/

 

Mental health

LETSS – a peer based chat service to help you understand and improve your mental health – call 1800 013 755 (5pm to 11.30pm, 365 days a year) or visit https://www.linkstowellbeing.org.au/services/letss for online chat

eHeadspace – online and telephone support and counselling for young people aged 12-25 and their families going through a tough time – call 1800 650 890 or go online for messenger chat service – https://headspace.org.au/eheadspace/connect-with-a-clinician/ – 9am to 1am, 7 days per week

SANE helpline – information, guidance and referrals you need to manage mental health concerns – call 1800 187 263 or visit website for online chat – https://www.sane.org/get-help – 10am to 10pm, weekdays

Better Help – tap into the Tap into the world’s largest network of licensed, accredited, and experienced counselors who can help you with a range of issues including depression, anxiety, relationships, trauma, grief, and more – https://www.betterhelp.com/ – this is a paid service

Talkspace – Talkspace makes therapy available and affordable to all – https://www.talkspace.com – this is a paid service

Regional Access – a free online and phone counselling service for anyone living or working in regional, rural or remote SA who are feelings the pressures and stresses of everyday life – 1300 032 186 – https://saregionalaccess.org.au/

ForWhen – Mental health support for expecting and new parents – call 1300 24 23 22 – https://forwhenhelpline.org.au/ – 9am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday

Head to Health – Advice on local mental health services that are best for you – 1800 595 212 – https://beta.headtohealth.gov.au/

Reachout Peer Chat – Free text-based chat with peer workers who have experience with mental health challenges – https://au.reachout.com/peerchat 

 

Sexual assault, domestic or family violence, abuse, trauma

1800 Respect – confidential information, counselling and support for people impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence and abuse – call 1800 737 732 or visit website for online chat and other resources – https://www.1800respect.org.au/ – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Blue Knot Helpline – Blue Knot Helpline is a specialist service. Our counsellors provide empathetic, informative and empowering support for adult survivors of childhood trauma and abuse – call 1300 657 380 or email helpline@blueknot.org.au – 9am to 5pm AEST, Monday to Sunday – https://www.blueknot.org.au/Helpline

National Disability Abuse and Neglect Hotline – Australia-wide telephone hotline for reporting abuse or neglect of people with disability – call 1800 880 052 or visit https://www.jobaccess.gov.au/complaints

 

LBGTIQA

Qlife – anonymous and free LGBTI peer support and referral for people wanting to talk about sexuality, identity, gender, bodies, feelings or relationships – call 1800 184 527 or visit website for online chat – https://qlife.org.au/ – 3pm to midnight, every day

 

Eating disorders

Butterfly Foundation – support and advice for those struggling with an eating disorder – call 1800 33 4673 or visit website for online chat – https://thebutterflyfoundation.org.au/our-services/helpline/ – 8am to 12am, 7 days a week (except national public holidays)

 

Veteran and defence personnel

Veterans and Families Counselling – free and confidential counselling for anyone who has served at least one day in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and veterans – call 1800 011 046 – 24 hours, 7 days a week – https://www.openarms.gov.au/

Safe Zone Support – a free and anonymous counselling line for all current and ex-serving ADF personnel, veterans and their families. It is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – call 1800 142 072 – https://www.openarms.gov.au/safe-zone 

 

Quit smoking

Quitline – providing the support, strategies and information to empower individuals to quit smoking – call 13 78 48 or visit website for online chat – https://quitlinesa.org.au/ – 8.30am to 8pm M-F, 2pm to 5pm Saturday

 

Gambling

Gambling Help Online – support for anyone affected by gambling – call 1800 858 858 or visit website for online chat – https://www.gamblinghelponline.org.au/ – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

 

For parents

Parent Helpline – for parenting advice and support – call 1300 364 100 – 7.15am to 9.15pm, 7 days – http://www.cyh.com/SubContent.aspx?p=102

PANDA – support for women, men and families across Australia affected by anxiety and depression during pregnancy and in the first year of parenthood – call 1300 726 306 – 9am to 7.30pm M to F – https://www.panda.org.au/

Pregnancy, Birth and Baby Helpline – support for parents on the journey from pregnancy, to baby and pre-school – call 1800 882 436 or visit website for video call options – https://www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/video-call – 7am to 12am, 7 days a week

Sands – support for parents who have lost a baby – call 1300 072 637 (24/7) or visit website for online chat option – https://www.sands.org.au/

Red nose grief and loss – supporting parents after the death of a child – call 1300 308 307 – https://rednosegriefandloss.com.au/ – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

ForWhen – Mental health support for expecting and new parents – call 1300 24 23 22 – https://forwhenhelpline.org.au/ – 9am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday

 

Drug and alcohol

Counselling Online – support for people affected by alcohol & other drugs – chat online at https://www.counsellingonline.org.au/how-we-can-help/chat-to-a-counsellor – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline – free and confidential advice for people affected by drug and alcohol – call 1800 250 05

Family Drug Support – national service for families dealing with drug and alcohol issues – call 1300 368 186 – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

 

Cancer

Cancer Council – free, confidential telephone information and support for cancer patients, people living with cancer, their families, carers and friends, teachers, students and healthcare professionals – call 13 11 20 – 9am to 5pm M to F

 

Study/work related

Digital Work and Study Service – free and confidential support for 15-24 year olds who are worried about work or study – call 1800 810 794 or visit website for online chat options – https://headspace.org.au/young-people/digital-work-and-study-program/

 

Decision making

Ethi-call – a free, independent, national helpline available to all. It provides expert and impartial guidance to help people make their way through life’s toughest challenges, when there’s nowhere else to turn. Book a call at https://ethics.org.au/initiatives/ethi-call/

 

After a vehicle accident

Road Trauma Support Team of South Australia – Counselling and support groups for those affected by road trauma – call 0400 705 066 or Freecall 1800 069 528 – http://www.roadtraumasupportsa.com.au/

 

After a suicide

Living Beyond Suicide – A free program providing practical and emotional support to families and individuals bereaved through suicide – call 1300 761 193 or email lbs@anglicaresa.com.au – https://anglicaresa.com.au/support/suicide-support/living-beyond-suicide/

Standby – Support After Suicide – StandBy is Australia’s leading suicide postvention program dedicated to assisting people and communities bereaved or impacted by suicide – Country SA North 0438 728 644 or Country SA South 0437 752 458 – http://standbysupport.com.au/

 

Grief and loss

GriefLine is Australia’s only dedicated grief helpline service that provides counselling support services free of charge to individuals and families who are experiencing loss and grief – call 1300 845 745 or visit https://griefline.org.au/phone-counselling/

 

For specific religious or cultural communities

Sikh Helpline Australia – Australia-wide confidential support service for those in the Sikh community where anyone can get help, advice, counselling and information on various personal and professional issues – call 0401 401 040

Aboriginal Family Domestic Violence Hotline – Victims services has a dedicated contact link for Aboriginal victims of crime who would like information on victim’s rights, how to access counselling and financial assistance – call 1800 019 123

ASK PEACE – Virtual mental health service for people of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds living in South Australia who have been impacted by COVID-19 (interpreters available) – 8245 8110 – https://www.rasa.org.au/services/couples-families/askpeace/

13YARN – 24/7 confidential crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders – https://www.13yarn.org.au/

Thirrili – They provide emotional and practical support to Indigenous families impacted by a loss from suicide or other fatal traumatic incidents – 1800 805 801 – https://thirrili.com.au/

 


We do our best to keep this list up-to-date but if you find an error in the listing, please contact gareth.furber@flinders.edu.au. Also, feel free to alert us to any phone/chat services that you know about that aren’t on this list. 


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