There are many organisations located in the Yarra Ranges that are dedicated to providing mental health support to people when they need it. It is ok to ask for help and support is available.
Mental health support services to help if you are in need include Anglicare, Inspiro, Youth Help Hub, Head to Help, Eastern Health and more. Below is a full list of services that are available to the Yarra Ranges community and this list also includes phone numbers to 24-hour hotlines and links to online resources.
Lifeline: 131 114 24-hour telephone counselling, information and referral service.
Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636 Provides information on depression and anxiety. To access professional counselling services, please make contact with your GP and ask for a referral.
Rural Health Connect is an online platform that links people to psychologists over video calls and phone calls. Australians deal with drought, bushfire, floods and isolation on top of all of life’s other pressures yet access psychologists at less than a fifth of the rate of people in cities.
They provide a direct, free of charge, link to a provisional psychologist, without needing to see your GP for a mental health care plan.
Provisional psychologists are students in their 5th and 6th years of study, who are gaining their final experience before registration. All provisional psychologists complete regular sessions with board approved supervisors .
This service is for children, adolescents and adults who are noticing signs that they may not be functioning at their best, as a method of early intervention. If you have a diagnosed mental illness please speak to your GP about what would be the best service for you.
This pilot is for people in rural and regional Victoria only.
Signs that you might not be functioning at your best include frequent feelings of sadness, trouble concentrating, feeling overwhelmed, problems with your work, family or social relationships.
It's important to remember that all Medicare cardholders are also eligible for 10 subsidised individual and 10 group mental health appointments per year — referred to as a Mental Health Treatment Plan. Australians affected by COVID-19 can also access an additional 10 sessions per calendar year until 30 June 2022.