At a glance
- Your mental health is an important part of your overall health.
- Mental health is one of the most common health concerns for young people in Australia, affecting around one in every five teens.
- If you are struggling with your mental health or feel like it’s getting worse, the best thing you can do is get help early.
- There are lots of places for young people to get mental health support – from online chat services to in-person counselling.
Your mental health matters
What is mental health?
Mental health is your social, emotional and psychological (mind) state. You can think of it as a scale. Some days, you might feel happy and get lots of tasks done; other days, you might feel stressed and overwhelmed. It’s normal for your mental health
to change over time.
How can mental health affect my life?
When your mental health is in a good place, it will be easier for you to work or study, enjoy your hobbies, feel connected to others in your community, and recover or ‘bounce back’ from challenges.
On the flip side, struggling with your mental health can affect how you feel and things like your sleep, motivation and energy levels. If this lasts longer than a few weeks, or it starts impacting your relationships, work or study, then it’s a good idea
to get some help.
Most common mental health concerns in teens
Stress
Stress is a feeling of worry or tension because of pressures and challenges in your life. Some reasons you might feel stressed are:
- Schoolwork and grades
- Big life changes like moving to a new place
- Friendship problems
- Bullying or peer pressure
- Family changes like divorce.
Everyone gets stressed sometimes. In fact, stress can actually help. For example, it might motivate you to study for an upcoming exam. But too much stress might feel overwhelming and stop you from doing the things you need to do.
Anxiety
Anxiety is an intense and excessive feeling of worry or fear. Like stress, it is normal for teens to feel anxious from time to time – especially during uncertain or difficult periods
Some common signs of anxiety are:
- Feeling very worried or scared
- Avoiding everyday situations like school or social events
- Trouble focusing
- Overplanning and overthinking
- Feeling tired more than usual and having problems sleeping
- Physical symptoms in your body, like a fast heartbeat, quicker breathing, stomach aches or feeling sweaty.
If your feelings don’t go away and start affecting your daily life, you might have an anxiety disorder. It's a good idea to speak with your local doctor (general practitioner or
‘GP’) or a mental health worker if you have ongoing anxiety.
What is a panic attack?
A panic attack is a sudden and strong feeling of fear that causes physical changes in your body. During a panic attack, your brain thinks something dangerous is happening, even if it's not. This makes your body release lots of hormones.
If you are having a panic attack, you might feel:
- your heart racing or pain in your chest
- short of breath
- dizzy or lightheaded
- sick or have stomach cramps
- shaky, unsteady or sweaty
- your muscles tense up.
Panic attacks can happen so fast that you don’t get time to stop and think. That’s why you could have a panic attack about a simple task like a school assignment or something scarier like being swooped by a bird. If you have regular panic attacks, it’s
best to speak with your GP or a mental health worker.
Depression
Depression is more than just feeling down or having a bad day. Everyone gets sad sometimes, but depression is when that sadness doesn't go away and affects your everyday life. It can make it hard to enjoy activities, focus on school, or spend time with
friends and family.
If you have depression, you might notice changes in your body, like:
- Feeling tired or having low energy, no matter how much sleep you get
- Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
- Eating more or less than usual
- Headaches, stomach aches or other aches and pains
- Restlessness.
If you feel intense sadness and other signs of depression for more than two weeks, you should speak to someone. Your parents or a trusted friend might be a good place to start. There is no need to struggle alone.
Getting mental health support
If you are feeling overwhelmed, anxious, down or just haven’t felt like yourself for a while, there are lots of ways to get support. Mental health experts can work with you to understand what you are going through and find ways to help you feel better.
There are many types of mental health workers, and they all play important roles in the Australian health system.
Crisis support services
If you are or someone else is having a mental health emergency, call an ambulance (000) immediately.
The services below can connect you with mental health workers online or by phone. They are all confidential, so they won’t share your information with others unless you
are in danger.
| Kids Helpline |
Mental health support for ages five to 25. |
|
Phone call
Chat online
Connect with others
|
1800 551 800
kidshelpline.com.au
kidshelpline.com.au/my-circle
|
Available 24/7 |
| Lifeline |
Mental health support for all ages. |
|
Phone call
Text message
Online chat
Accessibility options
|
13 11 14
0477 131 114
lifeline.org.au
lifeline.org.au/language-support/
(for those with difficulty speaking or hearing)
|
Available 24/7 |
| Suicide Call Back Service |
Support for people aged 15 and over affected by suicide. |
|
Phone call
Online chat
|
1300 659 467
suicidecallbackservice.org.au
|
Available 24/7 |
| Beyond Blue |
Mental health support for all ages. |
|
Phone call
Online chat
Connect with others |
1300 22 46 36
beyondblue.org.au
forums.beyondblue.org.au
|
Available 24/7 |
| 13YARN |
Mental health support for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people. |
| Phone call |
13 92 76
13yarn.org.au
|
Available 24/7 |
| 1800RESPECT |
Support for people of all ages experiencing sexual assault or domestic and family violence, or supporting someone who is. |
|
Phone call
Text message
Online chat
|
1800 737 732
0458 737 732
1800respect.org.au
|
Available 24/7 |
| QLife |
Peer support for LGBTQIA+ people of all ages. |
|
Phone call
Online chat
|
1800 184 527
qlife.org.au
|
Available
3pm to 12am (midnight) AEST
|
| Translating & Interpreting Service (TIS National) |
Language support for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds who need an interpreter to use services like Lifeline or Beyond Blue. |
| Phone call |
131 450
tisnational.gov.au
|
Available 24/7 |
Non-urgent support services and resources
| What is it? |
Ages |
Contact Details |
Support |
Availability |
headspace
- Australia’s National Youth Mental Health Foundation.
- Offers support with mental health, alcohol and drug services, and work or study issues.
- Has translated fact sheets.
|
12 to 25 |
1800 650 890
headspace.org.au |
Phone
Online chat
Centres
|
3pm to 10pm AEST online and by phone.
Different opening hours for each centre.
|
Reachout
- Online youth mental health service.
- Offers anonymous chat support.
- Shares resources.
|
16 to 25 |
au.reachout.com |
Online chat
Connect with others
|
3pm to 8pm AEST, Monday to Thursday.
1pm to 5pm AEST, Friday.
|
Butterfly Foundation
- Support for people with eating disorders or body image concerns.
- Shares resources.
|
All ages |
1800 33 4673
butterfly.org.au
|
Phone
Online chat
|
8am to 12am (midnight) AEST |
National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline
- Support and advice about alcohol and other drugs.
- Shares information on Alcohol and Drug services in your state or territory.
|
All ages |
1800 250 015 |
Phone |
Available 24/7 |
MOST
- Online youth mental health service
- Offers interactive mental health tools and one-on-one support.
|
Ages 15 to 25
(12 to 14 with a referral)
|
most.org.au |
Online content
Connect with others
|
|
Raise
- Online mentoring program that connects young people with trained mentors to build skills and confidence.
|
13 to 16 |
raise.org.au/digital |
Online program |
|
Things you might be wondering
Do I need to tell my parents if I want to see a mental health worker?
You have a right to private and confidential health care as a teen. This privacy means you can see a
counsellor or other mental health worker. The mental health worker won’t tell your parents what you share unless they are worried about your safety. But, in most cases, it’s best to tell your parents so they can help you get the care and support
you need.
I am worried about my mental health. What do I do?
If you are having serious mental health challenges and you might be in danger, call an ambulance (000) immediately. There is no shame in protecting yourself from harm.
The most important thing to remember when you are struggling with mental health is that you are never alone. There are always people who can help you. Some young people like to speak with a friend, parent or trusted adult like their school counsellor.
Others prefer to use an online or phone service to talk about their worries with someone new. If you want to start seeing a mental health worker, speak with your GP about the best option for your needs. In Australia, the government will cover
some or all costs of seeing a professional under a Mental Health Treatment Plan if you have a Medicare card.
What can I do to support my mental health when I am feeling well?
The best time to look after your mental health is when you are feeling mentally well. This is because you are more likely to have the time and space to take care of yourself. There are many things you can do to be proactive about your mental health,
such as eating a nutritious and balanced diet, exercising often,
getting enough sleep and limiting your screen time.
Helpful links
Developed by The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH); medical review by the Adolescent Medicine department, with input from the Psychology department. Created with advice from the RCH Health Literacy Youth Advisory Committee.
Reviewed August 2025
Speak with a doctor for up-to-date and personalised medical advice.