Urgent mental-health help
Get urgent help when someone may not be safe
Call Triple Zero (000) or go to the nearest emergency department now if you or someone else is in immediate danger, may act on thoughts of suicide or self-harm, may seriously harm another person, or cannot stay safe. HerDoc is not an emergency or crisis service, so do not wait for an online GP appointment in these situations.
When should I get urgent mental-health help?
Call 000 now when there is immediate danger, a life-threatening medical problem or a serious risk of harm. Ask for an ambulance or police according to the situation, or go to the nearest emergency department if you can do so safely.
Use emergency help without delay
Other signs that require prompt emergency assessment can include severe confusion, hallucinations or delusions with unsafe behaviour, extreme agitation or aggression, an overdose, serious injury, or being unable to care for basic needs or remain safe.
Stay with the person if it is safe to do so. Follow the emergency operator's instructions and move away from weapons, traffic, heights or other immediate hazards where possible without putting yourself at risk. Avoid confrontation and do not attempt to restrain the person unless emergency professionals direct you.
Contact crisis support now
If there is no immediate danger but you need crisis support, contact one of these Australian services. If one service is busy or does not meet your needs, try another service or use emergency care if safety worsens.
- Lifeline — 13 11 14: free, confidential crisis support for anyone in Australia; available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Suicide Call Back Service — 1300 659 467: free professional phone counselling for people in Australia aged 15 years and older; available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- 13YARN — 13 92 76: confidential support with an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporter; available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Kids Helpline — 1800 55 1800: free phone counselling for children and young people aged 5 to 25 in Australia; available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Help finding non-crisis care
Medicare Mental Health — 1800 595 212 can help anyone in Australia connect with mental-health and wellbeing services from 8:30 am to 5 pm on weekdays, except public holidays. It is not a crisis or emergency service.
If you are unsure how urgently a health concern needs attention, call healthdirect — 1800 022 222 to speak with a registered nurse, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call 000 instead when the situation is life threatening or someone is in immediate danger.
Get help now
Immediate danger or life-threatening emergency: call 000 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Crisis support: call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467.
Culturally safe crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people: call 13YARN on 13 92 76.
Children and young people aged 5 to 25: call Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800.
Unsure about medical urgency: call healthdirect on 1800 022 222; call 000 if immediate danger is possible.
When telehealth may not be suitable
- Emergency or crisis care
- Immediate danger or inability to stay safe
- Situations requiring emergency assessment or transport
When to seek urgent care
Call 000 or go to the nearest emergency department now for immediate danger, inability to stay safe, possible serious harm, or a life-threatening medical problem.
- Possible suicide or self-harm action
- Risk of serious harm to another person
- Severe confusion or unsafe behaviour
- Overdose, serious injury or inability to meet basic needs
Related pages
FAQs
When do mental-health symptoms need urgent help?
Urgent help is needed when someone may harm themselves or another person, cannot stay safe, is in immediate danger or has severe confusion or dangerous behaviour. Call 000 or go to an emergency department for an immediate threat; use a crisis service when support is needed now but there is no immediate danger.
What should I do if I or someone else is in immediate danger?
Call 000 now and follow the operator's instructions, or go to the nearest emergency department if that can be done safely. Do not wait for a HerDoc appointment or leave an unsafe person alone unless staying would put you at risk.
What should I do if I am having suicidal thoughts?
If you may act on the thoughts or cannot stay safe, call 000 or go to an emergency department now. If there is no immediate danger, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 for 24/7 crisis support and tell someone you trust.
What if I have thoughts of self-harm but do not think I am in immediate danger?
Contact a crisis service now and tell a trusted person or health professional what is happening. If the risk changes, you have started to act, or you can no longer stay safe, call 000 or go to an emergency department.
What should I do if I am worried about someone else?
Ask directly about their safety, listen without judgement and help them contact a crisis service or health professional. Call 000 if there is immediate danger, and do not put yourself at risk while trying to help.
Do hallucinations, delusions or severe confusion need urgent help?
They can, especially when they are new, rapidly worsening or linked with unsafe behaviour, inability to care for basic needs or risk of harm. Call 000 or seek emergency-department assessment when there is immediate danger or the person cannot stay safe.
What if someone is extremely agitated, aggressive or behaving dangerously?
Move to safety, avoid confrontation and call 000 when there is a risk of harm. Follow the operator's instructions and do not attempt to restrain the person unless emergency professionals direct you.
Does a panic attack always require emergency care?
Not every panic attack is an emergency, but chest pain, severe breathing difficulty, fainting, injury or new and unfamiliar symptoms need urgent medical assessment. Call 000 if symptoms could be life threatening or you are unsure whether there is immediate danger.
What if I cannot care for myself or stay safe?
Seek urgent help rather than remaining alone. Call 000 or go to an emergency department if you cannot meet basic needs, cannot stay safe or may act in a way that causes serious harm.
What if alcohol or other drug use is making the situation less safe?
Call 000 for overdose, unconsciousness, severe breathing problems, dangerous behaviour or immediate risk of harm. Tell responders what was taken, how much and when if you know, and do not rely on a routine online appointment.
Should I call 000 or go to an emergency department?
Call 000 when the situation is life threatening, transport is unsafe or immediate emergency help is needed. An emergency department can assess urgent mental and physical health concerns; if in doubt about immediate danger, call 000.
Which Australian crisis-support services can I contact now?
Lifeline 13 11 14, Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467, 13YARN 13 92 76 and Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 are available 24/7 for their stated audiences. If someone is in immediate danger, call 000 instead of waiting for a crisis line.
Is Medicare Mental Health a crisis service?
No. Medicare Mental Health on 1800 595 212 helps people find mental-health and wellbeing services during its published weekday hours, but it does not provide crisis or emergency support. Use 000 for immediate danger or a crisis line for support needed now.
Can HerDoc provide crisis or emergency mental-health care?
No. HerDoc is an online GP service and is not an emergency or crisis service. Use 000, an emergency department or an Australian crisis-support service rather than joining the waiting list or waiting for an appointment.
What should I do if I am unsure how urgent the situation is?
If immediate danger is possible, call 000. Otherwise, healthdirect on 1800 022 222 has registered nurses available 24/7 who can advise what level of care to seek; use a crisis line when you need emotional or suicide-related support now.