Getting help in Australia

Start where you are

People look for support for many reasons. You might be finding everyday things harder, feeling unlike yourself, or simply wanting to talk with someone outside your usual circle. You do not have to compare your experience with anyone else's or work out whether it is serious enough. A conversation can begin with uncertainty.

You can use this page at your own pace. Reading it does not commit you to an appointment, and an appointment does not require you to tell your whole story at once. If someone you trust is nearby, you could ask them to sit with you while you look at your options. If you would rather do this privately, that is also a reasonable way to begin.

A GP can be a first contact

A general practitioner, often called a GP, can be a good first person to talk to about how things have been. You can book with a GP you already know or look for a clinic near home, work, or somewhere easy to reach. When checking a clinic's website or calling reception, you can ask whether an appointment is available and whether a longer appointment can be booked. You can also ask about the fee before booking. If an online booking page is confusing, a phone call to reception is another option.

At the appointment, you can begin in ordinary words. For example: 'I have not felt like myself lately, and I would like to talk about it.' You can say that you are unsure where to start. A GP may ask questions to understand what has been happening and discuss possible next steps with you. You can ask them to explain anything that is unclear. The conversation can move at a pace that lets you ask what matters to you.

If you would rather speak Mandarin or Cantonese, you can ask a clinic whether one of its GPs speaks your language, or ask for a professional interpreter. If you are eligible for Medicare, GPs registered with TIS National's Free Interpreting Service can book an interpreter at no cost to you. You do not have to bring a family member to interpret.

Make the appointment easier

A few notes can help if words are hard to find in the room. They are for you, and you decide whether to show or read them. You do not need a polished account. A few plain sentences about what has changed, what has been difficult, and what you hope to ask can be enough to begin. If you forget something, you can add it later or arrange another conversation.

You might also want to ask what the appointment will cost, what different options involve, and how you would arrange any follow-up. Answers can depend on your circumstances and the service, so the GP or clinic is the right place to check current details. Bringing a trusted person is another choice if it would make the conversation easier. You can tell the GP if you want part of the conversation on your own.

If the first appointment does not feel right

A first appointment does not have to settle everything. You can ask for more time to think, request a clearer explanation, or arrange another conversation. If you did not feel heard, seeing a different GP is an option. You can also ask someone you trust to help you search for another appointment. A difficult first conversation does not mean you asked for help in the wrong way.

There are other places to ask about support too. Medicare Mental Health provides information about finding services in Australia. The source links below can help you explore what is available. Services, costs, referrals, and eligibility can change, so check the current details with the service or a GP rather than relying on a general summary. You can take one option at a time and ask questions before choosing a next step.

If talking with a psychologist or another mental health professional might help, you can ask your GP whether a Mental Health Treatment Plan suits you. Under the Better Access initiative, a plan and a referral let you claim Medicare benefits for up to 10 individual sessions in a calendar year. Your GP usually refers you for up to 6 sessions first, and you can go back to talk about more. From 1 November 2025, the plan needs to come from the practice you are registered with through MyMedicare (a free way to link with one clinic), or from your usual GP, so returning to the same clinic can help. Professionals set their own fees and Medicare usually covers only part of the cost, so ask what you will need to pay when you book.

One thing for today

If you have some room for one action today, look up a nearby GP and check whether you can book an appointment. A clinic website, a map, or a call to reception can be enough to find an opening. You can choose a place that is practical for you to reach. If there is no suitable time, keeping the clinic's details gives you a place to start another day.

If looking up an appointment feels too much right now, write three points to bring to a future appointment. They can stay on paper or in your own notes; this website does not ask you to enter or save them. The three prompts below are a starting place, and you can change or ignore any of them.

1. 1What I have noticed lately: a few words about a change or a concern.
2. 2What I would like help with: one part of life that feels difficult at the moment.
3. 3What I want to ask: one question about possible support or the next conversation.

If you need help now

You can use the emergency contact for your region below, or open the Help page to find a person to speak with. If the region shown is not yours, the Help page also lets you change it and offers a worldwide helpline finder. You do not need to finish this guide before reaching out.