Mental health and wellbeing support

We understand that disasters have a devastating impact on many lives. You don’t have to go through it alone.

There is support, counselling and advice available for you and your family.

Emergency Recovery Victoria support services

Victorians affected by the floods can call our hotline on 1800 560 760.

The hotline can help you with:

• clean-up services
• finding a place to stay
• financial support
• mental health and wellbeing support.

Counselling services

If you or a loved one needs extra support, speak with your local doctor, a mental health professional, counsellor or psychologist. It can also be helpful to talk to someone who is independent but still understanding.

Phone Triple Zero (000) if you or someone you know is in immediate danger.

For more information and resources, visit:

• LifeLine – phone 13 43 57
  • Lifeline is a 24-hour telephone service that offers confidential support and advice to help you deal with stress and personal challenges.
• Beyond Blue information line – phone 1300 224 636
  • Beyond Blue has an information line that offers expert information on depression, how to recognise the signs of depression, how to get help, how to help someone else and how to stay well.
• Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre – phone 1800 015 188
  • This response centre provides confidential support and information for women and children living with family violence or for anyone who knows a person living with family violence.
• Mensline – phone 1300 789 978
  • This is a telephone support, information and referral service helping men deal with their relationship problems.
• Nurse-on-Call – phone 1300 606 024
  • This is a 24-hour telephone service that allows people to discuss any health-related issues with a registered nurse for the cost of a local call.
• DirectLine alcohol and drug counselling - phone 1800 88 236
  • Confidential drug and alcohol counselling and referral.
• Parentline - phone 13 22 89
  • Support for parents and carers.
• Kids Helpline – phone 1800 551 800
  • This is a 24-hour telephone service that provides a phone and online counselling service for young people aged 5–25.
• Mental Health and Wellbeing Hubs - phone 1300 375 330
  • Book an in-person or telehealth appointment for anyone who feels overwhelmed or needs support with mental health concerns.
• Australian Psychological Society Referral Service - phone 1800 333 497

Mental health and wellbeing resources

Practical advice and resources is available to help you.

• Better Health Channel
• Victorian Aboriginal Community-Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO)
• Australian Red Cross

Family violence support

Family violence can happen to anyone.

Dial 000 if you are in immediate danger.

You can contact these services if you or someone you know needs help or support:

• Safe steps – 1800 015 188 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week)
  • For women and children who are victims of family violence
• 1800 Respect – 1800 737 732 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week)
  • For people experiencing or at risk of experiencing sexual assault, domestic or family violence
• Orange Door
  • Access services for adults, children and young people who are experiencing family violence
• Men’s Referral Service – 1300 766 491 (8am to 9pm, Monday to Friday; 9am to 5pm, Saturday and Sunday)
  • It takes a lot of strength to acknowledge that things may not be right. This service specialises in effective evidence-informed engagement with men. The staff will work to develop safe and effective interventions for men who turn to violence.
• Sexual Assault Crisis Line – 1800 806 292 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week)
  • For victims of sexual assault
• Child Protection – 13 12 78 (5pm to 9am, Monday to Friday, and 24 hours on weekends and public holidays)
  • For children and young people whose safety is at risk.

Disability support

The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) can support National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants once people are out of danger. You may be eligible to access the scheme if you are under 65 and live with a permanent disability that affects your ability to take part in everyday activities.

Phone the NDIA Contact Centre on 1800 800 110 for information and advice.

Support for families

For children and young people

It's okay to feel stressed and confused after a disaster. If you feel this way, you should talk to your parents or guardians about it.

Headspace is a national youth mental health program and they have a lot of information on their How to cope with the stress of natural disasters webpage. They provide this advice about dealing with the stress:

• Talk with a trusted adult about getting the right sort of help if it all feels a bit much.
• Do things that make you feel physically and emotionally safe, and be with those who are helpful to your wellbeing.
• Engage in activities that promote a sense of calm and feeling grounded (use of alcohol and other drugs can be counterproductive with this). Look for ways to include some routine and re-engage with pre-exposure activities as much as possible (e.g. playing games or sports, hobbies, etc.).
• Find ways to connect with others, especially those who help you feel OK.
• Explore ways to get involved with repair and recovery of your community, and family and friends. This can help foster a sense of hope, which is important to recovery.
• Be mindful of exposure to traumatic information through stories, traditional news and social media. It can be helpful to take a break from the 24-hour news cycle.

There are people in the community who you can talk to directly:

• Kids Helpline – phone 1800 551 800 – a 24-hour telephone service that provides phone and online counselling service for young people aged 5–25.

For parents and guardians

Children can feel overwhelmed and devastated when directly affected by emergencies or from the scenes that emerge afterwards. Sometimes, they don’t have ways of understanding what they see and can be particularly vulnerable to feelings of anxiety, stress and sadness.

At the same time, children can also have a natural ability to be resilient and adapt to challenging events.

Here are some signs to look out for:

• a child becoming more clingy towards a parent or carer
• changes to sleeping or eating patterns, or both
• the emergence of new physical complaints – such as stomach ache or headache
• changes in mood – such as being more easily irritable, or shutting down
• changes in a child's behaviour or learning at school
• appearing on edge and frightened – for example, being more easily startled, developing new fears, having nightmares or regression in behaviour.

If you (or one of your child’s carers) notice these or other changes then it is important to ask the child what they are worried about. Talk to them in a way that is open and appropriate to their age. Listen to their questions and fears and show them that you understand.

If you are concerned and need assistance you can get help from:

• your doctor
• a local community health centre
• a psychologist
• Parentline (13 22 89)
• Beyond Blue (1300 224 636).

Support for businesses

Partners in Wellbeing is a free and confidential helpline available seven days a week. Speak to trained financial counsellors, business advisers and wellbeing coaches for confidential 1:1 support. Call 1300 375 330.