Your mental health and wellbeing influence how you think, feel, and behave in daily life. They also affect your ability to cope with stress, overcome challenges, build relationships, and recover from life’s setbacks and hardships. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.
Mental health and wellbeing are significant issues in Brimbank and neighbouring municipalities in Melbourne’s west. One of the bigger challenges for people to access mental health services is not knowing and understanding what supports exist. Our ability to access support close to home is also important to our mental well-being.
Your local general practitioner (GP) is always a good place to start with finding mental health support. However, if you do not have a GP or would prefer to try something different, there are many other services and supports in Brimbank that are available to help.
Mental wellbeing supports, directories and resources
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 000 or go to your closest hospital emergency department.
Links to websites, directories, and other resources that can connect you or someone you care for to mental health and community services in Brimbank are listed below.
Health directories
Health directories
National Health Services Directory
National Health Services Directory (NHSD) is a government-funded national directory of health services which provides comprehensive, reliable and accurate information about health, mental health and related services. You can find mental health professionals in your area by visiting healthdirect service finder.
Website: healthdirect.gov.au
AskIzzy
Ask Izzy is a website that connects people in need with housing, a meal, money help, family violence support, counselling and much more. It is free and anonymous, with thousands of services listed across Australia. If you’re on the Telstra or Vodafone mobile networks, you can access Ask Izzy on your phone even if you don’t have credit or access to Wi-Fi.
Website: askizzy.org.au
North Western PHN Local services directory and online support
The following service guide includes services available for everyone (regardless of age or circumstance) as well as for families, young people, men, LGBTIQ people, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from migrant and refugee backgrounds, those seeking asylum, and carers.
Website: North Western PHN Local services
Support in Brimbank
Support in Brimbank
Brimbank Mental Health and Wellbeing Local (Brimbank Local)
The Brimbank Local is a recently opened, free to access mental health and wellbeing service for people aged 26 years and above. They have a multidisciplinary team of mental health professionals and various support options available and appear to be the closest accessible service for you. You can simply walk in, give them a call or send them an email and you will be supported.
Call: (03) 9448 5522
Address: 45 Dickson St, Sunshine
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8.00am – 6.00pm
Website: Brimbank Mental Health and Wellbeing Local
Brimbank Youth Services B-Heard Counselling and Support program
Brimbank Youth Services provides services that aim to enhance the health and wellbeing of young people aged 10-25 years who have a connection to the City of Brimbank. The B-Heard program is a voluntary, early intervention and generalist service offering individual support, therapeutic group work and counselling including single sessions through to short term timeframe in a safe, supportive and confidential environment.
Referrers are required to contact us to discuss the needs of the young person, program eligibility, response times and any other questions prior to making the referral.
Call: (03) 9249 4000
Address: Visy Cares Hub, 80b Harvester Road, Sunshine, Victoria 3020
Website: Brimbank Youth
headspace Sunshine
headspace Sunshine offers free support for young people aged 12 to 25, their families and friends. Headspace provides young people with a range of integrated mental health, alcohol and other drugs, physical and sexual health and vocational supports.
Call: (03) 9927 6222
Address: Visy Cares Hub, 80b Harvester Road, Sunshine, Victoria 3020
Website: headspace Sunshine
Western Metro Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect
Jesuit Social Services’ Western Metro Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect offers a range of supports including information, resources, counselling, individual support, and group programs to those who care for others with mental health and substance use issues. There’s no need for a referral.
Call: 0429 564 269
Email: mhwc.west@jss.org.au
More local supports and resources
More local supports and resources
North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network
North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network funds a range of free mental health and wellbeing services for community members most in need. Services have been grouped to make it easier to find the ones you need. It includes services for everyone; families, young people, men, LGBTIQ community, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from multicultural backgrounds, refugees and asylum seekers and carers.
Website: North Western Melbourne PHN
CAREinMIND™ Wellbeing Support Service
Free 24/7 online and phone counselling for people living, working or studying in Melbourne’s northern, central and western suburbs.
Call: 1300 096 269
Website: CAREinMIND™
Head to Health
Head to Health is a free confidential service from the Australian Government. A trained mental health professional will take your call and find the services and supports to best suit you.
Call: 1800 595 212
Website: Head to Health
Pathways To Wellbeing (Australian Vietnamese Women’s Association)
Pathways to Wellbeing is an online tool built to help Victorians, particularly Vietnamese Victorians, learn more about the new Victorian Mental Health system. You can use it to understand your rights and to find mental health services, legal services and interpreter services for yourself or someone you know. Pathways to Wellbeing is available in both Vietnamese and English. Other services are also available including: Gambling and AOD counselling, family violence prevention, and prisoner support.
Website: Pathways To Wellbeing
State wide and Australia wide supports
State wide and Australia wide supports
Lifeline
Lifeline is a 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention service.
Call: 13 11 14 (24 hours, every day)
Text: 0477 131 114 (from 6pm to midnight AEDT, every night)
Lifeline online: crisis chat (from 7pm to midnight, every night)
Website: Lifeline
Suicide Call Back Service
Suicide Call Back Service is a free nationwide service providing 24/7 phone and online counselling to people affected by suicide.
Call: 1300 659 467
Website: Suicide Call Back Service
Beyond Blue
If you’re going through a hard time right now, the Beyond Blue Support Service is available 24/7 for brief counselling.
Call a counsellor: 1300 22 4636
Webchat: Chat with a counsellor online
Website: Beyond Blue
Kids Helpline
Free, private and confidential phone and online counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25.
Call: 1800 551 800 (24 hours, every day)
Webchat: Kids Helpline Online Counselling
Website: Kids Helpline
13YARN
The first national crisis support line for mob who are feeling overwhelmed or having difficulty coping. Offers a confidential one-on-one yarning opportunity with a Lifeline-trained Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporter who can provide crisis support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 13YARN empowers the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community with the opportunity to yarn without judgement and provide a culturally safe space to speak about their needs, worries or concerns.
Call 13 92 76 (24 hours, every day)
Website: 13YARN
WellMob
WellMob brings together online resources made by and for our mob. Here you will find websites, apps, podcasts, videos, social media, and online counselling all with a focus on social and emotional wellbeing.
Website: WellMob
MensLine Australia
MensLine Australia is a free telephone and online counselling service offering support for Australian men anywhere, anytime.
Call 1300 78 99 78
Website: MensLine Australia
Foundation House
Free counselling and support for people who have experienced refugee trauma. Supporting survivors of torture and other traumatic events.
Call: 03 9389 8900
Website: Foundation House
Carers Victoria
Carers Victoria is the statewide voice for family carers, representing and providing support to carers in Victoria.
Call: 1800 514 845
Website: Carers Victoria
Switchboard Victoria
Free, peer-driven support services for LGBTIQ people, their families, friends and communities.
Call 03 9663 2474
Website: Switchboard
More useful links
More useful links
Talking to your doctor (GP) about mental health - Advice on starting the conversation with your doctor about mental health and some possible questions to ask. Provide by healthdirect
Looking after your mental health and wellbeing - A guide on when, where and how to seek mental health support. Provided by North Western Melbourne Public Health Network
Mental wellbeing is a Brimbank priority
‘Supporting improved mental wellbeing’ has been identified as a key health and wellbeing priority in the “Together We Are Brimbank” Council Plan 2021-25.
A two-year Mental Wellbeing Plan has been developed to support improved mental wellbeing in the community.