21 free mental health resources for your patients
General practitioners and health professionals are often the first point of contact for people experiencing mental health challenges and play a vital role in connecting individuals with timely, appropriate, support. Yet with increasing demand and growing waitlists for mental health services across Australia, many individuals can face long wait lists for support.
With one in five Australians experiencing a mental health condition each year, ensuring access to highly quality, free mental health resources has never been more important – especially for those in rural, remote, or underserved communities.
To help bridge this gap, we’ve compiled a list of 21 trusted, free mental health resources that you can share with clients and patients. This list includes helplines, digital tools, culturally responsive services, and mobile apps designed to support wellbeing between or in lieu of sessions with a mental health professional. These tools are intended to complement — not replace — professional care. For information about Sonder’s in-person services for adults, young people, and children, visit sonder.net.au/mental-health.
Free mental health helplines and online chats
1. Lifeline Australia
24/7 helpline: 13 11 14
SMS: 0477 13 11 14
Webchat available at: lifeline.org.au
Crisis support for patients experiencing suicidal ideation, emotional distress, or requiring crisis de-escalation.
2. Beyond Blue Support Service
24/7 helpline: 1300 22 4636
Webchat available at: beyondblue.org.au
Short-term counselling for anxiety, depression, and stress, including support for carers and families.
3. 13YARN (First Nations Crisis Support Line)
24/7 helpline: 13 92 76
Operated by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, this helpline provides trauma-informed, culturally appropriate support.
4. Suicide Call Back Service
24/7 helpline: 1300 659 467
Webchat available at: suicidecallbackservice.org.au
Multi-session phone and online counselling for people experiencing suicidal thoughts, their loved ones, bereaved individuals, and health professionals supporting people who are affected by suicide.
5. Qlife
3pm-midnight helpline: 1800 184 527
Webchat available at: qlife.org.au
Peer support for LGBTIQA+ people exploring identity, sexuality, relationships, and mental health.
6. MensLine Australia
24/7 helpline: 1300 78 99 78
Webchat available at: mensline.org.au
Confidential support for men with concerns around mental health, relationships, and wellbeing.
7. eheadspace
9am-1am helpline: 1800 650 890
Webchat available at: headspace.org.au
Phone and online counselling for young people aged 12–25, or their family members and carers.
8. Kids Helpline
24/7 helpline: 1800 55 1800
Counselling service for young people aged 5–25.
Free digital mental health resources
9. Medicare Mental Health
Website: medicarementalhealth.gov.au
A central portal for digital mental health services including online programs, apps, and forums for a diverse range of concerns. GPs can also refer patients directly through the Medicare Mental Health Phone Service.
Did you know Sonder operates a walk-in Medicare Mental Health Centre at 23 Gillingham Road Elizabeth? We also run a Safe Haven, a walk-in mental health service at 9 John Street, Salisbury.
10. WellMob
Website: wellmob.org.au
Collection of culturally-appropriate resources for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people experiencing mental health challenges, including videos, factsheets, podcasts, and other resources.
11. moodgym
Website: moodgym.com.au
An interactive CBT-based program likened to a self-help book, consisting of five interactive modules with exercises, quizzes, and workbooks.
12. THIS WAY UP
Website: thiswayup.org.au
Developed by experts at St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney, THIS WAY UP offers evidence-based courses for a range of presentations. Some courses are fully subsidised with GP referral; GPs can register as prescribers to monitor patient progress. The resource hub is free to access.
13. Embrace Multicultural Mental Health
Website: embracementalhealth.org.au
Multilingual mental health factsheets and tools to support culturally diverse communities.
14. BlueKnot
Website: blueknot.org.au
Support for people in recovery from complex trauma, including translated resources.
15. myCompass
Website: mycompass.org.au
Developed by the Black Dog Institute, myCompass is an interactive self-help tool to promote resilience and wellbeing.
16. headspace
Website: headspace.org.au
A library of easy-to-understand resources about mental health tailored for young people, those supporting young people, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Free, in-person support is available to young people from headspace centres across South Australia. Sonder operates headspace centres in Adelaide, Edinburgh North, Marion, and Onkaparinga.
17. out-spoken
Website: headspace.org.au/lgbtiqaplus
This free video series from headspace, hosted by young people in the LGBTIQA+ community, covers sexuality, gender identity, and everything in between.
Free mental health mobile apps
18. Smiling Mind
Website: smilingmind.com.au
A free mindfulness and meditation app developed by psychologists and educators, offering over 700 guided sessions and a mental fitness tracker.
19. What’s Up?
Available on iOS and Google Play
Features CBT tools to manage anxiety, stress, and negative thought patterns.
20. Moodfit
Website: getmoodfit.com
A personalised mental fitness app that helps users track mood and build healthy habits..
21. MindDoc
Website: minddoc.com
Daily mood tracking, self-care routines, and psychoeducation for emotional wellbeing.
Why recommend free mental health resources?
Empowering patients with access to self-directed and culturally responsive mental health tools can support them to overcome self-stigmatisation, lessen demand on emergency departments, and create better mental health outcomes.
For urgent or life-threatening presentations, call 000 immediately.
For more information about Sonder’s mental health services, visit sonder.net.au/mental-health or email info@sonder.net.au.