Mental Health

• Personal, family and financial counselling hotlines:
• Lifeline on 13 11 14
• Mensline on 1300 78 99 78
• Parentline on 13 22 89
• Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800.

• beyondblue provide information about depression, anxiety and substance-use related disorders in the Australian community on 1300 224 636.

Counselling and Support for Victoria 's Drought Affected Farmers

There is a range of support and counselling services available for people experiencing personal or family pressures as a result of drought or other issues. Dealing with stressful events is often helped by talking it over with a local GP, clergy, telephone help lines or local counselling and support services.

Personal Counselling

• Free personal counselling is available in drought affected areas through the Centrelink Drought Assistance Line on 13 23 16.
• The Victorian Drought Personal Support Line is a free hotline being operated by Wesley Mission. It is a confidential counselling service which provides information, support and referrals. It is available 7 days a week from 3pm to 11pm on 1300 655 969.
• The Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry provides support for farmers considering future alternatives to farming as part of the Farm Help Program.
• The Department of Human Services has a Drought page which provides links to counselling services and also to a range of useful publications including "Losing the Farm" and "Suggestions for Farm Families in Crisis".

The Department of Human Services has a range of information sheets available that deal with general wellbeing. These include:

• Children and crisis
• Teenagers and crisis
• Family and crisis
• Stress after emergencies
• The stress of being under threat
• When someone you know has had a traumatic experience