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Services

24/7 services
24/7 service ACON Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Alcohol and other drugs Apps Bereavement Disability Doctor referral required Housing LGBTQ+ Legal Mental health Online chat Peer led Phone Support Postvention Relationships Supporting someone else Supporting yourself Trans and Gender Diverse Trauma

On this page you can see the phone numbers and websites of crisis support lines and other health and wellbeing services.  

The first five listed are all 24/7 accessible, free-call crisis lines. Click on ‘What to expect’ to read about wait times, who you will speak to, and the service’s understanding of LGBTQ+ experiences. Some crisis lines will call emergency services if suicide is mentioned.  

Along the top of this page, you can see tags, such as 24/7 service, peer led, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, etc. Click + to see all the tags available. You can select tags to narrow your search for the services that are most relevant to your current needs. 

ACON provides free (or very low cost) and confidential counselling, care coordination, peer support and home-based care services to people living with HIV and their families, and LGBTQ+ people. 

For more information about the differences between services, where to find peer support, and what support specific health professionals can provide, follow the link below.  

Read more about navigating services here

When people feel supported, like they belong and are not a burden, feelings of suicide can decrease.   

When reaching out for help, LGBTQ+ people need to find support that validates and affirms their identities and experiences.  

Providing an inclusive service can include:

Signs of inclusion

Are there visible signs of inclusion on the service’s website or service location? 
That could look like a welcome here logo sticker, community representation flags that can include progress, trans, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags, and resources in different languages. 

Language

Does the service’s website, intake processes and resources use language that is inclusive and affirming of different gender identities and experiences? Click here for a best-practice template for an affirming intake form.  

Resources and programs

Does the service provide specific tailored resources or programs for LGBTQ+ communities? That could look like brochures and flyers that are available in reception areas, posters communicating specific community health promotion or programs, running specific LGBTQ+ programs or services and employing LGBTQ+ peer workers. 

Importance of accessing safe services

Available training

Self-care can be small and simple actions that support you through feelings of overwhelm or distress. These actions can be ways of comforting yourself, distracting yourself, relaxing yourself, or having a plan of action ready for you and loved ones when things become too much.  

Keeping tabs on activities and experiences that you like will help you practice caring for yourself in difficult times. Self-care can include reaching out to a friend or relative or calling a crisis line for the first time. Or you may be caring and listening to someone close to you talk about their suicidal thoughts and not know what to say or do and need to find care strategies. In these situations, it is important to remember the things that make you feel grounded and safe, try new activities or contact a listed service that a professional can offer you guided self-regulation techniques and tools. 

Follow this link for some ideas for self-care. 

Follow this link for information on making a safety plan.

 

24/7 service

Emergency 000

Emergency 000 is the number for police, ambulance, fire services. You should only call 000 if you are in immediate physical danger, or you think someone is in immediate physical danger.

000

Free Call 24/7

Website

What to expect

Supporting someone else Supporting yourself

You will talk to someone almost immediately. Wait times for police or ambulance vary. 

You will speak to an operator who will ask you a few questions and for your location. 

 It is not a mental health/suicide helpline and operators will only respond to immediate physical danger. 

They may not have training for mental health crises. 

 Police or ambulance may attend but you cannot choose which. 

As a mainstream service, some phone operators may have limited knowledge about our communities, and may make assumptions about pronouns, gender and sexuality. 

 

24/7 service

Lifeline

Lifeline is FREE 24/7 crisis support helpline. Lifeline offers support for people who are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment, and information in Simplified Chinese, Arabic and Vietnamese.

13 11 14

Free Call 24/7

Online chat

24/7

Website

What to expect

Mental health Supporting someone else Supporting yourself

As a mainstream service, some phone operators may have limited knowledge about our communities, and may make assumptions about pronouns, gender and sexuality. 

Lifeline can have a wait time of up to 30 minutes.  

You will speak to a volunteer who will ask you about your distress.  

You can remain anonymous. 

Lifeline may call emergency services if you mention suicide or having a plan to suicide. 

Click here for help while you wait or aftercare. 

24/7 service

Beyond Blue

Beyond Blue is a FREE 24/7 mainstream suicide and mental health service staffed with trained counsellors.

1300 224 636

Free Call 24/7

Chat

24/7

Website

What to expect

Mental health Online chat Phone Support Supporting someone else Supporting yourself

As a mainstream service, some phone operators may have limited knowledge about our communities, and may make assumptions about pronouns, gender and sexuality. 

Beyond Blue can have a wait time of 30 minutes.  

You will speak to a counsellor who will provide brief support.  

You can remain anonymous.  

24/7 service

13Yarn

13YARN is a free 24/7 service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experiencing crisis.

13 92 76

Free Call 24/7

Website

What to expect

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental health Peer led Phone Support Supporting yourself

As a mainstream service, some phone operators may have limited knowledge about our communities, and may make assumptions about pronouns, gender and sexuality. 

You will speak to a Lifeline trained Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporter. 

Wait times may vary.  

You can remain anonymous.  

Accessibility options not available. 

Click here for help while you wait or aftercare. 

24/7 service

Suicide Call Back Service

Suicide Call Back Service is a FREE 24/7 crisis service for people at risk of suicide or concerned by someone at risk or bereaved by suicide.

1300 659 467

Free Call 24/7

Chat

24/7

Website

What to expect

Mental health Online chat Phone Support Supporting someone else

As a mainstream service, some phone operators may have limited knowledge about our communities, and may make assumptions about pronouns, gender and sexuality. 

Suicide Call Back Service can have a wait time of 30 minutes. 

You will speak to a trained counselor.  

They may call emergency services if you mention you have a plan or have taken suicidal action. 

 Accessibility options not available. 

Click here for help while you wait or aftercare. 

ACON regional services

Our ACON Regional Services map will help you find local sexual health clinics (orange pin), LGBTIQ+ community groups (rainbow pin), Aboriginal community health services (Aboriginal flag pin) and the services offered at each of our ACON offices.

Website

ACON Support services

ACON offers a range of free and affordable counselling services for LGBTQ+ adults in NSW. Services include suicide aftercare and crisis counselling and peer support, Pride Counselling, care coordination, HIV and LGBTQ+ counselling, substance support and home-based care.

02 9206 2000

Mon - Fri 9AM - 5PM

Website

Sydney, Hunter, Northern Rivers

Sydney Front of House Mon - Fri 9AM - 6PM
Hunter Mon, Wed, Fri 9AM - 5PM, Tues & Thurs 9AM - 6PM
Northern Rivers Mon - Fri 9AM - 5PM
ACON LGBTQ+ Mental health Peer led Supporting someone else Supporting yourself

Black Rainbow

Providing outreach to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTIQA+SB people and are currently developing a suite of knowledge sharing materials, undertaking research, and engaging in policy development and advocacy.

Website

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

Charlee

Charlee is a digital suicide prevention hub created by the LGBTQ+ community. It takes a no wrong door approach and seeks to create a safer space designed by LGBTIQA+ peers, to connect other peers and supporters to resources that better reflect and address the experiences often faced by our communities.

Website

LGBTQ+ Peer led Supporting someone else Supporting yourself

Full Stop

24/7 crisis support providing counselling for people whose lives have been impacted by violence and abuse. Full Stop offer a 24/7 telephone and online crisis counselling service for anyone in NSW – men and women – who have experienced, or are at risk of, sexual assault and their non offending supporters.

1800 385 578

24/7

Website

Phone Support Supporting yourself Trauma

Link2home

24/7 crisis support. A statewide telephone service providing information, assessment and referral to specialist homelessness services, temporary accommodation and other appropriate services for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

1800 152 152

24/7

Website

Housing

Manual of Resources for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention

The Manual is a collection of practical resources and tools that people, both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous, can use to make a real difference in promoting positive mental health and social emotional wellbeing, and preventing suicide in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Website

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Supporting someone else Supporting yourself
24/7 service

NSW Mental Health Line

NSW Mental Health Line offers professional help and advice and referrals to local mental health services.

1800 011 511 

Free Call 24/7

Website

What to expect

Mental health Supporting someone else Supporting yourself

As a mainstream service, some phone operators may have limited knowledge about our communities, and may make assumptions about pronouns, gender and sexuality. 

NSW Mental Health Line may have a wait time of up to 30 minutes 

You will speak to mental health professionals who will ask you detailed questions to determine if you need ongoing mental health care and how urgently  

They may then put you in contact with the most relevant mental health service for children, teens, adults and older people. 

Click here for help while you wait or aftercare. 

QLife

QLife is a non-crisis national LGBTQ+ peer run service offering support and referral for people wanting to talk about sexuality, identity, gender, bodies, feelings or relationships.

1800 184 527

Free Call
Mon - Sun 3PM - 12AM

Online chat

Mon - Sun 3PM - 12AM

Website

What to expect

LGBTQ+ Online chat Peer led Phone Support Supporting someone else Supporting yourself

QLife phone and chat can have a wait time of 30 minutes.  

Phone calls are limited to 25 minutes and web chat is limited to 35 minutes.  

You will speak to a LGBTQ+ peer who can offer you support and referral.  

You can remain anonymous.  

Click here for some ideas on how to care for yourself as you wait. 

 

Rainbow Cultures Directory

Directory of LGBTQ+ multicultural community groups and services.

Website

LGBTQ+

Transcultural Mental Health Centre

The Transcultural Mental Health Centre (TMHC) works with health professionals and communities across New South Wales to support positive mental health for people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

Website

Mental health

Way Back Support Service

The Way Back Support Service is available upon discharge after a suicide attempt. It provides practical, non-clinical support following a suicide attempt. The service aims to assist individuals and their families by linking them with appropriate support services to help manage life situations and challenges.

Website

What to expect

Doctor referral required Peer led Supporting yourself

This service requires a referral after discharge from hospital.

Sorry, we found no matching services.