Patient Information

Online Mental Health Therapy for Children and Youth

Online mental health therapy:

• Many adolescents with mild to moderate depression and anxiety respond well to psychological interventions. Given that prescribing antidepressants is less effective for this age group, it is important to be able to offer them alternative therapy options.
• Online treatment options (eMental Health or eMH) are a useful alternative to face-to-face therapy in this age group. They can also provide an excellent introduction to the content of face-to-face therapy or adjunctive therapy where face-to-face therapy is already being undertaken.
• Importantly, these programs can also teach resilience-building skills to patients at risk of developing anxiety and depression.
• Some Australian eMH programs have been designed specifically for this age group. This includes MoodGYM, the adolescent version of the BRAVE program, Mindspot Clinic’s "Mood Mechanic Program" and Macquarie University’s "Chilled Plus" Program.
• There are also some adult eMH programs that have features that make them especially attractive to younger users – like the myCompass programs smart phone-based symptom tracking facility.

Online mental health services:

Australian Government Head to Health

Searchable collection of over 300 mental health services and resources funded by the Australian government. Includes fact sheets, apps and online programs, web chat services, and forums.

Bite Back

• Free service for patients aged 12 to 25 years.

  Bite Back

  • Provides information about:
    • mental health and young people.
    • mental fitness and interactive sections based on positive psychology.
  • Website
• Self-referral – some parts require online registration.

Black Dog Institute

• Free service for patients of any age.

  Black Dog Institute

  • Primary areas include depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, workplace mental health, youth mental health, and suicide prevention.
  • Does not offer crisis support.
  • Website.
• Self-referral – no registration required.

Brave

• Free service for patients aged 8 to 17 years, and their parents.

  Brave

  • Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) based anxiety treatment programs:
    • For children aged 8 to 12 years, and their parents.
    • For children aged 12 to 17 years, and their parents.
  • Interactive, online program for the prevention and treatment of childhood and adolescent anxiety.
  • Includes pre‑registration demonstration program and demonstration program for parents.
• Self-referral – online registration required after demonstration.

CanTeen

• Free service for patients aged 12 to 24 years struggling with a cancer diagnosis in themselves, or in friends or family.

  CanTeen

  • Offers phone, email and online counselling from 10 am to 10 pm AEST weekdays and 11 am to 6 pm AEST weekends.
  • Face‑to‑face counselling is available during normal business hours with scheduled after‑hours sessions also on offer.
  • Information and peer support groups.
  • Website
• Self-referral – optional online registration.

Chilled Plus

• Free service for high school students with anxiety and depression.

  Chilled Plus

  • A new program for high school students with anxiety and depression.
  • Teaching creative ways to manage emotions and to reach personal goals and dreams based on cognitive behavioural treatment that incorporates the latest research in working with negative emotions.
  • The program consists of 8 modules online, with phone calls from a therapist in the form of an “online buddy” who is in contact after each session.
  • Website
• Self-referral – online registration is required.

Cool Kids / Chilled Out

• Private service from Macquarie University, for patients aged 7 to 17 years with anxiety.

  Cool Kids

  • Fees involved.
  • There are two age‑based programs:
    • Cool Kids is for patients aged 7 to 12 years, and their parents.
    • Chilled Out is for patients aged 13 to 17 years.
  • The program consists of 8 online lessons e.g., understanding anxiety, gradually facing fears, and assertiveness.
  • Website
• Self-referral – online registration is required.

Cool Little Kids Online

• Private service from Macquarie University, for parents of children aged 3 to 7 years with anxiety or shyness.

  Cool Little Kids Online

  • Fees involved.
  • The program consists of 8 online modules with easy to read information, practical skills, videos, and stories from other parents who have completed the program.
  • Website
• Self‑referral – online registration is required.

eheadspace

• Free service for patients aged 12 to 25 years and their families.

  eHeadspace

  • Offers chat, email or phone contact with a qualified youth mental health professionals.
  • Provides advice about mental health and are part of Headspace, the National Youth Mental Health Foundation
  • Offer face‑to‑face counselling in their centres.
  • Can help with a broad range of issues like bullying, drug and alcohol issues, depression and anxiety, relationships, concerns about friends, fitting in and isolation.
  • Offers work and study advice.
  • Website
• Self-referral – online registration is required.

MindSpot Clinic – Mood Mechanic Program

• Free service for patients aged 18 to 25 years.

  Mindspot Clinic

  • Offers phone and online advice on anxiety and depression.
  • Provides online screening assessments, free treatment courses, online wellness courses including Mood Mechanic program.
  • Can also locate related local services.
  • Operates a virtual clinic structure with regular contact with counsellor by phone or email while enrolled in a course.
  • Website
• Self-referral – online registration is required.

MoodGYM

• Free service for patients ≥ 16 years.

  MoodGYM

  • Offers cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)‑based program developed for building resilience in young people.
  • It is suitable for treatment as well as building resilience.
  • Website
• Self-referral – online registration is required.

myCompass

• Free service for patients aged ≥ 16 years with mild to moderate anxiety, depression, and stress.

  myCompass

  • Provides a personalised self-help program that can be used on a mobile phone, computer and/or tablet.
  • CBT and ACT‑based program with problem specific modules and smart phone based tracking facility (for mood monitoring)
  • Psychological skills development and treatment of mild to moderate mental health conditions
  • Website
• Self-referral – online registration is required.

ReachOut

• Free service for patients aged 16 to 25 years.

  ReachOut

  • Online mental health organisation for young people, providing:
    • practical support to help them get through everything from everyday issues to tough times.
    • online tools that address youth mental health and reduce youth suicide.
    • support for parents and carers to improve the mental health and wellbeing of the young people within their family environment, this includes information about mental fitness (e.g., relaxation, coping skills, personal strengths).
    • information on helpful apps
  • Operate a peer‑moderated forum.
  • Website
• Self-referral – no registration required.

OCD? Not me!

• Free service for patients aged 12 to 18 years with obsessive compulsive disorder.

  OCD? Not me!

  • Based on face‑to‑face treatment for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). It involves eight stages, designed to be undertaken over eight weeks.
  • Provides:
    • information, tips, activities and support to help patients overcome the symptoms of OCD
    • support for parents and caregivers to help them manage their child’s OCD and their progress through the program.
    • online search options for psychological services.
  • Website
• Self-referral – online registration required as it is still being evaluated at Curtin University.

Smiling Mind App

• Free service for patients aged ≥ 7 years.

  Smiling Mind App

  • Modern meditation for young people. It is a unique web and app-based program, designed to help bring balance to young lives.
  • A not‑for‑profit initiative based on a process that provides a sense of clarity, calm and contentment.
  • Smart phone‑based mindfulness training exercises for patients aged ≥ 7 years.
  • Website
• Self-referral – no registration required.

The Butterfly Foundation

• Free service for patients aged ≥ 18 years with eating disorders.

  The Butterfly Foundation

  • Offers a number of support programs for people currently suffering from an eating disorder and who need additional help through their recovery.
  • Programs also offer care and support for parents and family members of those suffering from an eating disorder, giving guidance, tools and strategies to dealing with this serious and often complex illness.
  • Programs are offered in conjunction and partnership with other treatment that individuals may currently be receiving. They do not recommend replacing current treatment with their support programs but encourage a combination of services for the individual.
  • Free phone counselling on 1800‑334‑673, Monday to Friday, 8 am to 9 pm AEST.
  • Website
• Self-referral – optional online registration.

Youth Beyond Blue

• Free service for patients aged 12 to 25 years, their friends, and carers.

  Youth Beyond Blue

  • Provides e-resources to assist with prevention and treatment of mental illness, and promotion of well‑being, including safety planning.
  • Provides mental health information and resources, especially on depression and anxiety.
  • Online forums and chat available.
  • Website.
• Self-referral – no registration required.