You do not have to ride this out on your own.
These lines are free, confidential, and answered by humans 24/7. You do not need to be in immediate danger to ring. You do not need a DVA card. You do not need to know what to say first.
Lines that work this minute.
Triple Zero
EmergencyIf you, or someone with you, is in immediate physical danger or has taken steps to end their life. Ambulance, Police, Fire.
Open Arms, Veterans and Families Counselling
VeteransFree, confidential, 24/7. For current and ex-serving ADF, partners, kids and parents. You do not need a referral or a DVA card.
Lifeline
Any reasonAnyone, any reason, any time. 24/7 phone, plus text 0477 13 11 14 (12pm to midnight AEST) and online chat.
Suicide Call Back Service
Suicide-specificFree, 24/7 phone and online counselling for people thinking about suicide, people worried about someone, and people bereaved by suicide.
Seven prompts to write out when you are not in the thick of it.
A safety plan is just a piece of paper you fill in on a good day, so that the bad day has something to follow. Print this page, or copy the prompts into your notes app. Show it to one person you trust. If writing it on your own feels hard, ring Open Arms and do it with a counsellor on the phone.
- 1
Warning signs
What thoughts, feelings, situations or behaviours tell me a hard period is starting? Write a short list. Naming them takes some of the power out.
- 2
Things I can do on my own
Activities that have settled me before. Walk the dog, cold shower, drive a familiar route, music, gym, mowing the lawn. Two or three is enough.
- 3
People and places that take my mind off it
A mate, a sibling, the local club, the beach, the workshop. Not for talking about the hard stuff, just for being somewhere with someone.
- 4
People I can ask for help
Two or three names and numbers. Tell at least one of them in advance that they are on your list, and what you would want them to do.
- 5
Professionals and services
GP, psychologist, Open Arms (1800 011 046), Lifeline (13 11 14). Write the numbers down, do not rely on remembering them in the moment.
- 6
Making the environment safer
Locking firearms away with a third party, removing or reducing access to medication, alcohol, sharps. Talk to your GP about a means-restriction plan.
- 7
My reason to ride this one out
One sentence. A child, a dog, a project, a date in the diary, a promise. Not the meaning of life. Just one thing for tonight.
The seven-step structure above is based on the Stanley-Brown Safety Plan and the Australian Beyond Now app, both used widely in clinical settings. Beyond Now is free and lets you keep the plan in your pocket.
Other lines worth knowing.
Different services fit different situations and different people. None of these are second-best. Ring whichever one feels easiest to pick up the phone to.
13YARN
24/7 crisis support line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, staffed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander crisis supporters.
MensLine Australia
24/7 telephone and online counselling for men dealing with family and relationship concerns. Free.
1800RESPECT
National 24/7 domestic, family and sexual violence counselling. Free, translator on request.
Defence Family Helpline
24/7 line for current ADF families, run by Defence Member and Family Support. Information, referral, and someone to talk to.
Beyond Blue
24/7 phone and webchat support for depression, anxiety and tough life moments. Free.
Kids Helpline
Free, confidential 24/7 counselling for young people aged 5 to 25, including kids of veterans.
You do not have to fix it. You just have to stay.
If you are worried about a veteran in your life, the most useful thing you can do tonight is usually the simplest. Be there in the room or on the phone. Ask directly. Stay calm. Do not make promises you cannot keep, like secrecy.
If there is immediate danger, ring 000 and stay with them until help arrives. If safe to do so, move firearms, medication and alcohol out of reach.
If they are struggling but not in immediate danger, ring Open Arms (1800 011 046) for the Family line. You can ring on behalf of someone else. The counsellor can talk you through what to say, what to listen for, and what to do next.
If you need to look after yourself too, the same Open Arms line covers partners, kids, parents and adult siblings. You are allowed to use it for you, not just for them. The For partners and families page has more on this.
This page is not a substitute for a clinician or a crisis service. If you are not sure who to ring, ring Open Arms on 1800 011 046 and they will help you work it out.