Health and wellbeing support

Mental Health Support

Over the last year, throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and now with the Murray River Flood event, an increasing number of people are reporting feeling worried, fearful, anxious or uncertain.

These feelings are often normal responses to stressful situations and usually get better over time.

But sometimes negative feelings can get a bit too much or go on for longer than they should, so it’s good to be aware of mental health signs and symptoms for yourself and those close to you. 

This information is designed to help you understand what to look out for and where you can get help if you or a loved one needs support.

Where to get help locally

Mallee Family Care
The Mental Health and Wellbeing Hub helps people who need mental health support. It’s a free local service designed to give practical assistance during recovery with support tailored to individual needs and circumstances. No referral is required.
People can call the hotline on 1300 375 330 to have a discussion. The phone line is open 9am - 10pm weekdays and 9am - 5pm on weekends.
Alternatively, you can drop in to Mallee Family Care's office at 122 Ninth Street, Mildura. 

Talk It Out Free phone and online counselling 24/7 to anyone 15 years and older.
Phone 1300 022 946

Head to Help In times like these, it’s OK to be a bit uncertain. Maybe a little stressed, anxious or sad. But what if these feelings get too much or go on for a while? The sooner you HeadtoHelp, the better you’ll feel. 
Phone 1800 595 212 and find the best mental health support for you.

Sunraysia Community Health Services Mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, grief and loss and life changes – emotions, self-esteem, communication, addiction and relapse, trauma, torture and abuse, including for refugees and new arrivals, parenting, pain and a GP service.
137 Thirteenth Street, Mildura
Phone 03 5022 5444

Headspace Mildura Support for 12 to 25-year-olds. Drop in or call to make an appointment.
2/125 Pine Avenue, Mildura
Phone 03 5021 2400

NSW Health- Far West Mental Health Drug and Alcohol Service provides a range of services and programs for people living in Wentworth, and surrounding areas (Dareton, Buronga, Gol Gol, Euston) – from a hub based in Broken Hill.
Dareton Primary Health Centre
42-44 Tapio Street, Dareton NSW
Phone 03 5021 7200

Robinvale District Health Services Counselling and social work services.  The Mental Health Drop-in Clinic is a free, confidential service offered to the whole of our community. No appointments are necessary
Health and Wellbeing Centre
128-132 Latje Road, Robinvale
Phone 03 5051 8160

Mallee District Aboriginal Services Social and emotional wellbeing hub: referrals to psychological counselling, including children and young people, couples and family groups who are experiencing depression, anxiety, stress, drug and alcohol issues, or wanting to improve their overall emotional wellbeing.
120 Madden Avenue, Mildura
Phone 03 5018 4100
77 Perrin Street, Robinvale
Phone 03 4013 2000

Catholic Care
Psychological wellbeing service helping with recovery from common mental health problems 136 Lime Avenue, Mildura
Phone 03 5051 0000
enquiries@centacaremildura.org.au

Coomealla Health Aboriginal Corp- Social emotional wellbeing support, suicide prevention education and support (Kumpa Kiira Suicide Prevention Project).
51 Sturt Place, Dareton NSW
Phone 03 5027 4824

Murray Valley Aboriginal Co-operative- Offers a range of primary care services to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community of Robinvale, including general practice, social and emotional wellbeing, drug and alcohol counselling.
87 Latje Road, Robinvale
Phone 03 5026 3353

Standby Murray Ongoing support for individuals, families, groups, workplaces or communities bereaved or impacted by suicide.
Phone 0439 173 310

 

Early signs and symptoms

Some signs and symptoms to keep an eye out for include: 

  • Feeling overwhelmed, sad, tired or moody
  • Feeling fearful or worried about the safety of yourself or others
  • Having vivid or distressing dreams 
  • Being unusually irritable or angry and/or restless and fidgety
  • Working too much or too little

If these signs or symptoms continue for more than two weeks and are beginning to impact your day-to-day life it is worth reaching out for help. Some examples of how your day-to-day life might be impacted include:

  • Loss of interest in activities that are normally enjoyed
  • Avoiding others such as withdrawing from social networks, work or family
  • Behaving out of character
  • Feeling overwhelmed by tasks that would normally be done easily
  • Being unable to concentrate
  • Having increased concern for physical health issues including for the physical health of babies if a new parent 
  • Regularly feeling sick and run down
  • Experiencing changes in sleep patterns, sleeping too much or too little
  • Changes in appetite (losing or gaining weight)
  • Increasing use of alcohol, cigarettes and/or drugs

Online and phone support

Flood Recovery Hotline Immediate help on clean up and temporary accommodation, and mental health and wellbeing.
Phone 1800 560 760

Partners in Wellbeing Helpline Confidential, one-on-one financial, business advice and wellbeing support to Victorian small business owners.
Phone 1300 375 330

Nurse-on-Call This phone service allows you to discuss any health-related issues with a registered nurse. The service is available 24/7, seven days a week for the cost of a local phone call.
Phone 1300 606 024 

Workplace Wellbeing Hub - One-stop-shop for business owners and advisers to access a range of wellbeing and mental health information. See business.vic.gov.au

Beyond Blue offers practical advice and resources plus short-term counselling and referrals by phone and webchat.
Phone 1300 22 46 36

Lifeline offers tips, resources and advice, as well as crisis and suicide support.
Phone 13 11 14

Headspace offers support and resources for 12-25 year olds plus online and telephone services.
Phone 1800 650 890

Kids Help Line offers support and resources for children, teens, young adults plus parents and carers.
Phone
 1800 55 1800

InTouch Multicultural Centre against Family Violence offers free, confidential help for migrant and refugee women who are experiencing family violence.
Phone 1800 755 988 Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
If you are in a crisis, you can call, Safe Steps on 1800 015 188 (24 hours)

1800RESPECT Confidential information, counselling and support service for people impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence and abuse.
Phone 1800 737 732

Mensline Australia Telephone and online counselling service for men with emotional health and relationship concerns.
Phone 1300 789 978

Yarning SafeNStrong Confidential Phone Counselling Service for Aboriginal and Torress Strait Islander Peoples. Operates 24/7 and is an initiative of the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service.
Phone 1800 959 563 

PANDA - Supports women, men and families across Australia affected by anxiety and depression during pregnancy and in the first year of parenthood.
Phone 1300 726 306

Directline - Alcohol and drug counselling and referral.
Phone 1800 888 236

QLIFE - LGBTIQA+ peer support and referral.
Phone 1800 184 527

Mental Health First Aid Training

Online Information and Training Resources

Psychological First Aid Training

Psychological First Aid is a crisis support training program that equips participants with the skills to be able to provide support to people immediately following a disaster or critical event until more appropriate professional help is available. 

Skills for Psychological Recovery

This link takes you to a series of videos that introduce the basics of Skills for Psychological Recovery (SPR). SPR is a set of six strategies that can help children, adolescents, adults, caregivers and first responders cope with or recover from disasters or traumatic events like hurricanes, earthquakes, wars and accidents.

PHN Suicide Prevention Training

Question. Persuade. Refer. (QPR) training is designed to provide everyday people with three simple steps to help save a life from suicide.

Key components of this training include the warning signs of suicide, how to ask the suicide question, common myths and misconceptions about suicide, and how to persuade someone to stay alive. The content can bring up strong emotions and be confronting.

 

Nurse-on-call

Nurse-on-call is available on 1300 606 024 and is a phone service that allows you to discuss any health-related issues with a registered nurse. The service is available 24/7, seven days a week for the cost of a local phone call.

Mosquitoes - Don't Wing It

Standing water in some areas following receding Murray River levels, and recent rainfall events, have increased the number of mosquitoes in our region.

Mosquitoes can carry diseases that can make people very ill and, in severe cases, can even cause death, and they can breed in even the tiniest amount of stagnant water.

There have been recent detections of several serious viruses in mosquitoes in our region, including Barmah Forest Virus and Murray Valley Encephalitis.

Thankfully, simple precautions can help protect you against mosquitoes and the diseases they may carry.

  • Cover up – wear long, loose-fitting clothing. Mozzies can bite through tight clothing
  • Use repellents that contain picaridin or DEET on all exposed skin. Mozzie repellents are your best defence against mosquito bites!
  • Use mosquito nets or insect screens
  • Use ’knockdown’ fly spray, mosquito coils or plug-in repellent where you gather to sit or eat
  • Limit activity outdoors and move indoors if possible

Children are vulnerable to mosquito bites, here some simple step you can take to protect them.

  • Make sure they wear long, loose-fitting clothing outdoors
  • Apply a thin, even layer of mosquito repellent to all exposed skin, avoiding hands, eyes and mouth. Choose a lower strength repellent for young children and babies (no more than 20% picaridin or DEET)
  • If your child has sensitive skin (or is bothered by the smell of DEET) use picaridin or apply repellent to their clothes instead
  • Drape a mosquito net over the pram, stroller or infant carrier (make sure there are no gaps)

Learn more about how to protect yourself and your family at Protect yourself from mosquito-borne disease - Better Health Channel

Upcoming Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine public clinics

EPA Victoria flood health warnings

Floodwater is often contaminated by overflowing sewerage or septic systems, and by agricultural or industrial wastes and chemicals. The Environmental Protection Authority Victoria has compiled some useful health information related to floodwater.