🚨 IMMEDIATE CRISIS HELP: Australia's Complete Emergency Support Guide 2025

If you're in immediate danger, call 000 right now. Don't wait. Don't hesitate.

🆘 EMERGENCY NUMBERS - SAVE THESE NOW

Life-Threatening Emergencies

• 000 - Police, Ambulance, Fire (24/7)
• 106 - Text Emergency (TTY users only)
• 112 - Mobile emergency (even with no signal)

Crisis Support Lines (24/7)

• Lifeline: 13 11 14 - Suicide prevention & crisis support
• Crisis Text Line: Text HELLO to 741741
• Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 - Depression & anxiety support
• 1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732 - Domestic violence support

🔴 IMMEDIATE ACTION STEPS BY CRISIS TYPE

If You're Having Suicidal Thoughts RIGHT NOW

Step 1: Call Lifeline 13 11 14 immediately

• Available 24/7, 365 days
• Free from mobiles and landlines
• Trained crisis supporters

Step 2: Go to your nearest emergency department

• Don't drive yourself - call 000 or have someone drive you
• Bring ID, Medicare card, and any medications
• Tell them: "I'm having thoughts of harming myself"

Step 3: Remove immediate dangers

• Ask someone to stay with you
• Remove access to means of self-harm
• Give medications/weapons to a trusted person

What to Expect:

• Immediate safety assessment
• Mental health professional consultation
• Safety planning
• Possible admission or crisis team support

If You're Experiencing Domestic Violence

Step 1: If in immediate danger, call 000

• Say: "I need police for domestic violence"
• If you can't speak, stay on the line - they'll send help

Step 2: Call 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732)

• 24/7 counselling and information
• Help with safety planning
• Referrals to local services

Step 3: Safety Planning

• Keep important documents ready (ID, Medicare, bank cards)
• Have a bag packed with essentials
• Identify safe places to go
• Tell trusted friends/family your code words

Emergency Accommodation:

• Contact your state's domestic violence service for immediate housing
• Women's shelters available in all capital cities
• Men's shelters available (call 1800RESPECT for referrals)

If Your Child is in Crisis

Step 1: Call Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800

• For children and young people 5-25 years
• Free, confidential, 24/7

Step 2: If immediate danger, call 000

Step 3: Family support services

• Parentline: 1300 30 1300 (varies by state)
• Local Child and Family Services
• School counsellor if school hours

If Someone You Know is in Crisis

Step 1: Don't leave them alone

• Stay with them or ensure someone else can
• Take all threats seriously

Step 2: Encourage professional help

• Offer to call services with them
• Offer to drive them to emergency department
• Call 000 if they're in immediate danger

Step 3: Remove dangerous items

• Medications, weapons, alcohol
• Do this calmly and safely

🏥 EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS WITH 24/7 MENTAL HEALTH

NSW

• Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (Camperdown)
• St Vincent's Hospital (Darlinghurst)
• Prince of Wales Hospital (Randwick)
• Westmead Hospital
• Liverpool Hospital

VIC

• The Alfred Hospital (Melbourne)
• Royal Melbourne Hospital
• Austin Hospital (Heidelberg)
• Monash Medical Centre (Clayton)
• Frankston Hospital

QLD

• Royal Brisbane Hospital
• Princess Alexandra Hospital (Brisbane)
• Gold Coast University Hospital
• Cairns Hospital
• Townsville University Hospital

WA

• Royal Perth Hospital
• Fiona Stanley Hospital
• Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital
• Fremantle Hospital

SA

• Royal Adelaide Hospital
• Flinders Medical Centre
• Lyell McEwin Hospital

TAS

• Royal Hobart Hospital
• Launceston General Hospital

ACT

• Canberra Hospital

NT

• Royal Darwin Hospital
• Alice Springs Hospital

📱 CRISIS APPS TO DOWNLOAD NOW

Free Crisis Support Apps

• Beyond Blue Support Service App
• ReachOut Breathe
• Smiling Mind (meditation/anxiety)
• MindShift (anxiety management)

Personal Safety Apps

• Emergency Plus (finds your location for 000 calls)
• bSafe (personal safety with emergency contacts)
• Life360 (location sharing with family)

🌍 MULTICULTURAL & INDIGENOUS SUPPORT

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

• 13YARN: 13 92 76 - Crisis support
• Aboriginal Medical Service (each major city)
• Link-Up Services (family tracing/reunion)

Multicultural Services

• Translating & Interpreting Service: 131 450
• FECCA Helpline: 1800 642 642 (migrant & refugee support)
• Centre for Multicultural Youth Crisis Service

Language-Specific Helplines

• Arabic: 1800 737 732 (1800RESPECT)
• Mandarin/Cantonese: Lifeline 13 11 14 (interpreter available)
• Vietnamese: Buddhist Crisis Line 1800 333 000

💰 EMERGENCY FINANCIAL HELP

Immediate Food & Shelter

• Salvation Army: 13 SALVOS (13 72 58)
• St Vincent de Paul: Each state has emergency relief
• Food banks: Major cities have free food services
• Churches: Many provide emergency assistance regardless of faith

Emergency Financial Assistance

• Centrelink Crisis Payment: Apply online or call 132 717
• State Emergency Relief: Contact your state government
• Local Council Emergency Relief: Contact your local council

Eligibility for Crisis Payment

You can get crisis payment if you're affected by:

• Extreme weather (floods, fires, storms)
• Domestic violence (with supporting evidence)
• Prison release
• Other special circumstances

How to Apply:

1. Go to myGov.gov.au
2. Link Centrelink account
3. Apply for Crisis Payment
4. Provide required evidence
5. Payment usually processed within 7 days

🏠 IMMEDIATE HOUSING HELP

Homeless Services by State

NSW

• Link2home: 1800 152 152 (24/7)
• Specialist Homelessness Services
• Mission Australia Housing

VIC

• Launch Housing Crisis Response: 1800 825 955
• Sacred Heart Mission
• Salvation Army Crisis Accommodation

QLD

• Brisbane Homelessness Service System: 3407 8700
• Micah Projects
• Communify Crisis Accommodation

WA

• Perth Inner City Homelessness Alliance
• Ruah Community Services
• Foundation Housing Crisis Support

SA

• Housing SA Emergency Accommodation
• Hutt St Centre Crisis Support
• Uniting Care Wesley Emergency Relief

What You Need for Emergency Housing

• Photo ID (driver's licence, passport)
• Medicare card
• Centrelink details
• Proof of crisis (police report, hospital discharge)
• Children's documents if applicable

🚑 MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS TEAMS

Community Mental Health Crisis Response

NSW: Mental Health Line 1800 011 511 VIC: Mental Health Triage Service (via local hospital) QLD: 13 HEALTH (13 43 2584) WA: Mental Health Emergency Response Line 1300 555 788 SA: Mental Health Triage Service 13 14 65 TAS: Mental Health Services Tasmania 1800 332 388 ACT: Crisis Assessment and Treatment Team 6205 1065 NT: Top End Mental Health Service 8922 8888

What Crisis Teams Do

• Assess your mental health condition
• Provide immediate support and treatment
• Connect you to ongoing services
• Provide alternatives to hospital admission when safe
• Support your family/carers

🔐 SAFETY PLANNING TEMPLATE

Personal Crisis Safety Plan

Warning Signs I'm Starting to Feel Unwell:

1. ---

2. ---

3. ---

Things I Can Do to Feel Better (Coping Strategies):

1. ---

2. ---

3. ---

People I Can Call:

• Name: _____________ Phone: _____________
• Name: _____________ Phone: _____________
• Crisis Line: 13 11 14 (Lifeline)

Safe Places I Can Go:

1. ---

2. ---

Things to Remove When I'm in Crisis:

• Medications (give to: _______________)
• Other items: _____________________

My Reasons for Living:

1. ---

2. ---

3. ---

📋 WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU CALL FOR HELP

When You Call Lifeline (13 11 14)

1. You'll speak with a trained crisis supporter
2. They'll listen without judgment
3. They'll help you work through the crisis
4. They may suggest local services
5. Average call length: 20-30 minutes
6. You can call as many times as you need

When You Go to Emergency Department

1. Triage: Nurse will assess urgency (usually immediate for mental health crisis)
2. Medical Assessment: Doctor will check physical health
3. Mental Health Assessment: Social worker or psychiatrist will evaluate
4. Safety Planning: If discharged, you'll get a follow-up plan
5. Possible Outcomes: Discharge with support, crisis team follow-up, or admission

When Police Respond to Mental Health Crisis

• Police are trained in mental health first aid
• They can transport you to hospital for assessment
• They can issue Mental Health Orders if necessary
• They work with mental health clinicians
• Their goal is your safety and getting you help

🗣️ WHAT TO SAY TO GET THE HELP YOU NEED

At Emergency Department

"I'm having thoughts of harming myself and I need help." "I'm experiencing a mental health crisis." "I need to speak to the mental health team."

To Crisis Lines

"I'm thinking about suicide." "I don't feel safe." "I need help dealing with these thoughts." "I don't know what to do."

To Family/Friends

"I'm not okay right now and I need support." "Can you stay with me tonight?" "I need you to remove these items from my house." "Can you come with me to the hospital?"

📞 FOLLOW-UP SUPPORT SERVICES

Ongoing Mental Health Support

• Mental Health Care Plans: Ask your GP
• Psychologist appointments: Subsidised through Medicare
• Psychiatrist referrals: Through GP or hospital
• Community mental health services: Through local health network

Peer Support Programs

• SANE Australia Peer Support
• Mental Health Carers Australia
• GROW Support Groups
• Bipolar Australia Support Groups

⚠️ IMPORTANT REMINDERS

You Are Not Alone

• Thousands of Australians experience mental health crises every day
• Seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness
• Professional help is available 24/7
• Recovery is possible

Your Privacy is Protected

• Crisis services are confidential
• Healthcare providers must protect your privacy
• You can ask about confidentiality policies
• Emergency situations may require sharing information for your safety

You Have Rights

• Right to respectful treatment
• Right to an interpreter if needed
• Right to have a support person present
• Right to complain if not satisfied with service

📱 SAVE THESE NUMBERS NOW

Create a contact in your phone called "CRISIS HELP" with these numbers:

• Emergency: 000
• Lifeline: 13 11 14
• Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636
• 1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732
• Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800
• [Your local emergency department number]

🔄 WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

If you're reading this in crisis:

1. ✅ Call one of the numbers above RIGHT NOW
2. ✅ Tell someone you trust what you're going through
3. ✅ Follow the safety planning steps
4. ✅ Accept help when it's offered
5. ✅ Remember: This feeling is temporary, help is available

If you're preparing for potential crisis:

1. ✅ Save emergency numbers in your phone
2. ✅ Complete a safety plan
3. ✅ Identify your support network
4. ✅ Know the location of your nearest emergency department
5. ✅ Share this information with family/friends

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Remember: IT'S OKAY TO NOT BE OKAY

Crisis doesn't mean failure. It means you're human, and humans sometimes need help. The services listed here exist because society recognises that we all need support sometimes.

You matter. Your life has value. Help is available right now.

Last Updated: August 28, 2025
Emergency Numbers Last Verified: August 2025

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This guide is for informational purposes. In life-threatening emergencies, always call 000 immediately. If you notice any outdated information, please contact us so we can update this resource.