Talk
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Talk about what’s going on

If you’re feeling depressed or anxious, don’t bottle it up.  Find someone to talk to - maybe there’s someone in your family, a school counsellor, a coach, an older friend, someone at church or work or another adult whom you respect.

If you don’t think you’ve got someone like that, there’s telephone and online counselling available.  You can speak to trained counsellors by phoning these 24-hour telephone counselling services:

  • Lifeline - 13 11 14 (cost of a local call; 24 hours)
  • Kids Help Line - 1800 55 1800 (free call from a land line; 24 hours)

If you’re worried about a friend, encourage the person to either talk to you (so you can try to help) or encourage the person to talk to a doctor, counsellor or trusted adult. You could also encourage your friend to call one of the numbers above.

Share your story

Share your story and read about other people’s experiences — you never know, you might find someone who feels exactly the way you do!

How do I get help?

Sometimes, when you’re worried about someone, it feels like you’re all alone.  It can seem like your other friends and family members have ‘normal’ lives, and they don’t understand why you’re worried.

If a person you know is going through a tough time and may be experiencing depression, it’s important to encourage him/her to seek help.  You may need to assist the person to find appropriate help because he/she may not have the energy or motivation to do it alone.

If you’re not sure about how to talk to someone about getting help, you might want to check out the tips for listening.

There is a range of help services available to young people.  Which one’s the best varies from person to person.  For example, if you live in a small country town where everyone knows each other, you may feel more comfortable speaking anonymously to someone over the phone or getting information on the internet as a starting point.

Types of help available