Clinical resources and tools – mental health and young people

Crisis support services

Lifeline call 13 11 14 or text 0477 131 114

Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467

Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800

 

Apps – suicide safety planning

Beyond Blue – Beyond Now suicide safety planning

On the Line – ReMinder App suicide safety planning

 

Apps – other

Calm Harm – DBT (dialectical behaviour therapy)-based app with strategies, distractions/activities/connections to help manage the urge to self-harm.

Daybreak – Support app to help young people reset their drinking habits.

Smiling Mind – free mindfulness app.

 

General resources and supports

Head to Health – a comprehensive one-stop-shop for apps, online courses, factsheets and forums.

Beyond Blue – telephone/online support, forums and resources, 1300 224 636.

Butterfly Foundation – telephone/online support and resources for eating disorders and body image issues, 1800 334 673.

eHeadspace – telephone/online support (registration required – only takes a few minutes), 1800 650 890.

Embrace Multicultural Mental Health – multicultural mental health resources and factsheets.

QLife – telephone/online support for LGBTQI+ people and their loved ones, 1800 184 527.

Reach Out – online support and information.

WellMob – mental health and social/emotional wellbeing support and resources for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

 

Information and resources about management options

Beyond Blue – A guide to what works for anxiety.

Beyond Blue – A guide to what works for depression.

Centre for Clinical Interventions – self-help resources including advice on graded exposure, activity scheduling and relaxation.

headspace – information, videos and interactive resources for young people, their friends and family.

Yarn Safe – offers support and resources for young Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

headspace – printable fact sheets for young people and their families.

headspace – Sleeping well for a healthy headspace.

headspace – Sleep and young people, putting the myths to rest.

This Way Up – Managing insomnia course.

Sleep Health Foundation – mental health and sleep fact sheets.

ReachOut and headspace – tips on exercise and eating well.

 

Online psychological programs and treatments

Mental Health Online – comprehensive and effective online services and programs for people experiencing mental distress.

MindSpot – a free tool providing anonymous assessment and treatment for people experiencing stress, anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD and chronic pain.

moodGYM – interactive resource that helps young people learn and practise skills which can help to prevent and manage symptoms of depression and anxiety.

This Way Up – clinically proven online program that takes a step-by-step approach to tackling feelings of stress, anxiety and low mood. The resources for coping and resilience include multilingual resources for young people.

Search Head to Health for other apps and programs.

 

Drugs and alcohol – information and support services

Alcohol and Drug Foundation – organisation committed to inspiring positive change and delivering evidence-based approaches to minimise alcohol and drug harm.

ReachOut – information for young people on reducing the harms of drugs and alcohol.

Beyond Blue – information on the effect of alcohol and drugs on mental health.

headspace – information for young people aged between 12–25 years relating to general mental health, physical health, work and study, and alcohol and other drugs.

Turning Point – national addiction treatment, training and research centre.

Hello Sunday Morning – health service supporting people to change their relationship with alcohol.

 

Assessment

HEEADSSS – a useful summary of the HEEADSSS assessment framework.

headspace psychological assessment of young people – provides advice on language and gives examples of non-judgemental questions that can be used in assessment.

headspace – Assessing and responding to safety concerns.

headspace –  Assessing the risk of suicide and self-harm.

 

Prescribing information, guidelines and evidence

FAQs – Medicare Benefits Scheme (MBS) items – Useful FAQs about MBS item numbers. Information on eligibility for psychological services and telehealth is also included.

headspace – Checklist before prescribing SSRIs in young people.

headspace – Differential diagnoses and comorbidities of depression.

headspace – Treatment guideline videos.

headspace – What to do with high acute risk of suicide.

Australian Prescriber – Guidelines for switching between specific antidepressants.

MedicineWise app

Orygen – Evidence summary of SSRI and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) antidepressants in the treatment of depression.

Orygen – Working safely and inclusively with sexually diverse young people.

e-Mental health resources for young people

Youth Law Australia – state-based information on the rights of a young person when they visit their doctor.

 

GP training

Training

Visit e-Mental Health in Practice (eMHPrac) for training modules, webinars and resources to support use of online programs and tools. Download the eMHPrac Guide to Digital Mental Health Resources for young people, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and CALD and LGBTQIA+ communities .

GP mental health skills training may allow GPs to claim higher MBS rebates for GP Mental Health Treatment Plans (GPMHTPs). The General Practice Mental Health Standards Collaboration also accredits other Mental Health CPD options and Focussed Psychological Strategies Skills Training (requires at least 20 hours) that allows GPs to become a provider of Focused Psychological Skills with Medicare and deliver cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or interpersonal therapy as part of a GPMHTP.