The Australian Government Department of Defence

Joint Health Command

Help Lines | Links and Resources

Mental Health Contacts

Help Lines

All Hours Support Line
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
CALL 1800 628 036
(Outside Australia +61 2 9425 3878)

Lifeline 13 11 14	Lifeline provides a 24-hour telephone counselling services with the national accessible number 13 11 14 for the cost of local call
At-Ease 1800 011 046	Department of Veteran's Affair - Deployment, coming home from a war or peacekeeping zone or returning to civilian life may have an effect on mental health and wellbeing. This website can help you or someone you know recognise signs of mental health problems and act to improve and maintain health and wellbeing.
Kids help line 1800 551 800	Kids Help Line is a free, confidential and anonymous, 24-hour telephone and online counselling service specifically for young people aged between five and 18.
Psychiatric Consultancy for Medical Officers 02 626 63830	Psychiatric Consultancy Line for Medical and Psychology Officers - 0416 265 635 (Outside Australia +61 416 265 635) . Medical and Psychology officers have access to current and expert advice on psychiatric presentations (including psychotropic medication) from an ADF Consultant Psychiatrist. Advice is available 24/7 by calling 0416 265 635
VETLINE 1800 011 046	Vietnam Veterans Counselling Service operates a national free call after-hours crisis telephone service called Vetline. The phone number is 1800 011 046.
NWCC 1800 801 026	NWCC provides a free call 24/7 information and referral service for families of deployed Defence personnel. This is to provide timely, accurate information, reassurance and support and referral to other family support agencies. The Centre is a welfare and family support service, which is part of the wider Defence family support network.

Links and Resources

Local Medical Centre	Your local Medical Officer can organise an appropriate referral to a counsellor or the local psych support section.
Chaplains	There are Chaplains connected to all units in Australia who can provide support and appropriate referrals
Defence Community Organisation	The DCO provides assistance to members and families in all regional areas. They provide 24 hour assistance in crisis situations in all military locations and will help with appropriate referrals if required during office hours.
Defence Force Psychology Organisation	All Psych Support Sections offer a twenty-four hour emergency service that can be accessed through your local Duty Officer.
Mental Health and Wellbeing	This links to the the web site of the Mental Health and Special Programs Branch, Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.
Vietnam Veterans Counselling Service (VVCS)	This service is available to veterans of all deployments and their families.
Australian Centra for Posttraumatic Mental Health (ACPMH)	The centre promotes the mental health of the Veteran and Defence Force Communities.
Directorate of Alternative Dispute Resolution and Conflict Management (DADRCM)	The Directorate of Alternative Dispute Resolution and Conflict Management (DADRCM) manages the ADRCM program across Defence, facilitates mediation and workplace conferencing, and provides training in conflict management.

Statistics and Research

Australian Bureau of Statistics	The ABS is committed to providing its clients with statistical information to meet user needs.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare	Australia's national agency for health and welfare statistics and information

National Policy

Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing	contains essential health and ageing information.
LIFE: Learning About Suicide	This publication sets the context for suicide prevention activity and provides a profile of the incidence of suicide and the current knowledge of risk and protective factors across different age, population and identified at risk groups.

International

WHO - Suicide Prevention

Suicide is the act of deliberately killing oneself. Risk factors for suicide include mental disorder (such as depression, personality disorder, alcohol dependence, or schizophrenia), and some physical illnesses, such as neurological disorders, cancer, and HIV infection. There are effective strategies and interventions for the prevention of suicide.

Other

depressioNet	depressioNet provides a comprehensive resource for Australians with depression and their families and friends to come for information help and support for depression and related issues.
Beyond Blue	The national depression initiative for Australia.
Livingworks	LivingWorks is a public service corporation whose vision is enhancing resources today and saving lives for tomorrow. Our mission is to create learning experiences that help communities prevent suicide. We aim to support sustainable, life-assisting resources in the community so that the benefits of our programs live on.

Should you wish to provide feedback on the ADF Mental Health Strategy Internet Pages or have any enquiries, please Email DMH.mentalhealth@defence.gov.au

8 August, 2008

Joint Health Command