Important update:
Unfortunately, we are having technical issues with our phone and online counselling. It may take longer than usual to get through to a counsellor right now. In the meantime, we are doing everything we can to resolve this as soon as possible. If you need to speak to a counsellor now, please consider calling Lifeline at 13 11 14.
If it is an emergency, please call 000.
Suicide Call Back Service is a national 24/7 telehealth provider that offers free professional phone and online counselling for people living in Australia.
You do not require a medical referral to initiate contact. This means you can access free professional counselling anywhere, at a time that is convenient to you.
Phone and online counselling is seen by many to be a helpful alternative to traditional face-to-face counselling because of its less confronting approach. Our professionally trained counsellors have specialist skills in working with suicide-related issues and they can help you to work through the pain and distress you may be feeling. The counsellor will help you with goal planning, ensuring your own safety, and help to link you to other services in the community.
All staff managing our telephone or online counselling services are qualified professional counsellors, social workers or psychologists, trained to follow a contextual counselling and problem solving process to listen, understand you, and help you find ways to feel better.
While you should always call 000 if it’s an emergency, we can help anyone who is affected by suicide, which includes:
- Anyone who is feeling suicidal
- Anyone who is worried about someone
- Anyone who is caring for someone who is feeling suicidal
- Anyone who has lost someone to suicide
- Health professionals supporting people who are affected by suicide.
Need to talk to someone?
Suicide Call Back Service offers free professional 24/7 telephone counselling support to people at risk of suicide, concerned about someone at risk, bereaved by suicide and people experiencing emotional or mental health issues.
Online chat – what you can expect
Access Suicide Call Back Service online counselling and chat with a counsellor anywhere, anytime.
- Real-time chat with a professional counsellor
- A focused session lasting up to thirty minutes. Your online counsellor will advise you when your session is coming to a close
- A free service available 24/7.
Please note this service is only available to people living in Australia aged 15 years and older. Unfortunately, we cannot provide assistance to people outside Australia and we recommend you contact your nearest support service.
How to access online chat:
- To access online counselling, simply click the floating chat button to the right of the screen
- A pop-up chat widget will then appear
- Enter your details in the mandatory fields and if one of our professional counsellors are available, you will be able to chat with them straight away
- There is no longer a need to register your details on our website.
Video chat – What you can expect
- Real-time support via a video link allowing you to talk with a professional counsellor
- A focussed session lasting up to thirty minutes. Your online counsellor will advise you when your session is coming to a close
- A free service available by appointment.
How to access video chat service:
- To access online counselling video chat, you will need to schedule an appointment
- Simply click the video chat button located at the bottom of each page
- A pop-up chat widget will then appear
- Enter your details in the mandatory fields and if one of our professional counsellors are available, you will be able to chat with them straight away
- They will take all relevant details and schedule a suitable time for a video chat appointment to take place
- All video chats are conducted via zoom
- Please have handy:
- Your email address
- Your reasons for using the Suicide Call Back Service video counselling service.
- There is no longer a need to register your details on our website.
Overseas
Please note Suicide Call Back Service is only available to people living in Australia aged 15 years and older (18 for video chat). Unfortunately, we cannot provide assistance to people overseas and we recommend you contact your nearest support service.
Befrienders Worldwide provides information about suicide and emotional support services worldwide in multiple languages.