To better assist rural communities, extra counselling services are now available.
If you are distressed, feeling suicidal or recovering from a suicide attempt, you can now access mobile, face-to-face counselling to get psychological and emotional support.
You can access these services directly or get a referral from your GP or nearest community health centre.
If you are in suicidal crisis, please contact the 24-hour Mental Health Line 1800 011 511 or call 000 for emergencies.
The direct phone number for a service may not always be able to provide immediate assistance.
Base location: Nowra - 55-57 Berry Street, Nowra Available: 8:30am - 5pm Monday to Friday Phone: (02) 4424 7800 or 0448 294 708
Base location: Health One, 130 Princes Highway, Ulladulla Provides services from Nowra to Mount Agony Road, North Durras Available: 8:30am-5pm Monday to Friday Phone: (02) 4455 9999 or 0448 294 708
Base location: Broken Hill Health Service, Primary Health Provides services to Broken Hill and outreach communities Available: 9am-5pm Monday to Friday Phone: (08) 8080 1554
Base location: Buronga HealthOne, 3 Pittman Avenue, Buronga Provides services to Buronga and outreach communities Available: 9am-5pm Monday to Friday Phone: (03) 5021 7200
Base location: Maitland Provides services to Upper and Lower Hunter Available: 9am-5pm Monday to Friday Phone: 1800 011 511 Email: HNELHD-ruralcounsellor@health.nsw.gov.au
Windsor
Base location: 8 Ross Street, Windsor Provides services in the Hawkesbury local government area Available: 8:30am-5pm Alternate Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays Phone: (02) 4560 4100
Base location: Community Mental Health, 60 Hunter Street, Lismore Provides services for Richmond Clarence, Lismore, Ballina and Casino Available: 8:30am - 5pm, Monday to Friday Phone: 0400 536 892
Base location: Community Mental Health, The Tweed Hospital, Powell and Florence Streets, Tweed Heads Provides services to Tweed Shire Available: 8:30am-5pm, Monday to Friday
Base location: Moruya Community Health Centre, 2 River Street, Moruya Provides services to the Eurobodalla area Available: 8:30am - 4:30pm, Monday to Friday Phone: (02) 4474 1561 or 0439 633 427
Rural and regional communities in NSW experience higher rates of suicide compared to metropolitan areas.
The Enhancement to Rural Counselling initiative is funding 15 rural counsellors to provide extra counselling services in nine rural and remote NSW local health districts, providing much needed counselling support.
The counsellors will
Additionally, an agreement has been signed between Western NSW Local Health District and Bila Muuji Aboriginal Corporation to deliver the service with the specific focus on suicide prevention and counselling in local Aboriginal communities.
