Mental Health Resources for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer/Questionning People and Other Sexual, Gender, and Bodily Diverse (LGBTIQ+) People and Communities

If you are part of the LGBTIQ+ community and are struggling with your mental health, you are not alone. Below are a list of national and Victorian support services. 

Urgent Help (24/7 Services)

• Lifeline — Call 13 11 14 or text 0477 131 114 or chat online at www.lifeline.org.au/crisis-chat/
• Kids Helpline — Call 1800 55 1800 or chat online at www.kidshelpline.com.au/get-help/webchat-counselling

National Support

Below is a list of organisations that provide further information and support.

If you would like to find a psychologist with experience in sexual orientation or gender identity issues, you can search the Australia-wide Find A Psychologist^TM search engine. Under "Search by Issue" select "Personal Issue" and then whatever you would like to seek help in relation to. 

• Qlife — Australia-wide anonymous and free LGBTIQ+ peer support for people wanting to talk about sexuality, identity, gender, bodies, feelings or relationships. Call 1800 184 527 (3pm to midnight daily) or webchat at qlife.org.au (3pm-12am AEST).
• Minus 18 — Resources help and guidance for Australia's LGBTIQ youth.
• LGBTIQ+ Health Australia — The national peak health organisation in Australia for organisations and individuals that provide health-related programs, services and research focused on LGBTIQ+ people and communities. 
• Black Rainbow — Australia's leading Indigenous suicide prevention and mental health support source for LGBTQ+ people.
• PFLAG Australia — Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays.
• Trans Pride Australia — Social and support group for trans and gender diverse people and their loved ones.
• Transcend Australia — National peer support network and community for parents and carers supporting their trans, gender diverse and non-binary child in Australia.
• Intersex Peer Support — An intersex peer support, information and advocacy group for people born with variations in sex characteristics.
• Intersex Human Rights Australia — Support and education by and for people with intersex variation traits.
• Headspace — Australia-wide online, phone and in-person support and counselling to young people, their families and friends. Call 1800 650 890 (9am-1am).
• ReachOut — ReachOut.com helps under 25s with everyday questions through to tough times.
• Beyond Blue — Beyond Blue works with the community to improve mental health and prevent suicide, so that all people in Australia can achieve their best possible mental health. Call 1300 22 4636
• Australian GLBTIQ Multicultural Council — a national body that advocates for the rights of multicultural and multifaith LGBTIQ individuals and communities.
• BlaQ – Committed to empowering the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTQ+ community across Australia through innovation, inclusion, understanding and advocacy.
• The Pinnacle Foundation — Provides educational scholarships, mentoring and opportunities for young LGBTIQ+ Australians to realise their full potential and overcome challenges arising from their identity.
• Pride In Law — A national LGBTIQ+ Law Association aimed at connecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer and questioning (LGBTIQ+) members of the legal community and their allies.

Victoria

• Switchboard — Anonymous and free telephone counselling, information and referrals for the LGBTQIA+ communities of Victoria and Tasmania.
• Zoe Belle Gender Centre (ZBGC) — An online service supporting the health and wellbeing of Victoria's sexuality and gender-diverse community, with information available to anyone in Australia.
• Thorne Harbour Health — Offers a range of programs and services for people living with HIV and sex, sexuality and gender diverse communities.
• Queerspace — An LGBTIQ+ health and wellbeing support service with a focus on relationships, families, parenting and young people.
• Rainbow Door — A free specialist helpline for LGBTIQA+ Victorians, their friends and family. The service is also connected to a multi-language interpreter support service, including Auslan interpreters.
• Transgender Victoria — The leading body for trans and gender diverse advocacy, training, and resource development in Victoria.
• The Shed — A Melbourne based support group for trans masculine people, including AFAB people who are non-binary, and those who are questioning or exploring their gender.
• Parents of Gender Diverse Children — Parents of Gender Diverse Children provides peer support to parents and those parenting trans and gender diverse children.
• Pride Disability Services – Tailored and specialised disability support services for members of the LGBTQI+ and gender diverse communities and their allies in Victoria.
• Queer Refugee and Asylum Seeker Peers (QRASP) — A peer-led social support group for LGBTQI+ refugees and people seeking asylum. Based in Melbourne with members across Victoria.
• Monash Gender Clinic — Specialist public health service for the trans, gender diverse and non-binary community in Victoria.
• Melbourne Bisexual Network — mental health and advocacy professionals working to improve and promote bisexual+ inclusivity in LGBTQIA+ programs and services. 
• Bi Alliance Victoria — a non-profit volunteer-run organisation dedicated to promoting the acceptance of bi+ people. It also runs monthly discussions and support groups. 
• Spectrum Intersections — a free Melbourne-based peer-led group for people 18 and over who identify as neurodiverse and are on the LGBTIQA+ spectrums. 
• Australian Gay and Lesbian Immigration Taskforce Victoria — The Gay and Lesbian Immigration Task Force (Vic) Inc (GLITF) provides support and assistance to gay and lesbian couples (the applicant or sponsor or both) who are seeking Permanent Residence status for the non-resident partner of an individual who is an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident, or an eligible New Zealand citizen.
• WithRespect — provides resoruces, tips and advice for LGBTIQ+ people on having and maintaining healthy relationships. Also provides support for LGBTIQ+ people of all ages and their family who are experiencing difficulty in their relationships, including family violence. 

Useful Interstate Resources

• ACON — LGBTIQ+ health and HIV prevention and support

• TransHub — ACON’s digital trans and gender diverse platform.

Resources for Parents and Friends

• PFLAG — Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays.

If you are at immediate risk of harm, call 000 for emergency services.

Source: ABCQueer

Please email abergin@aquaticsandrecreation.org.au if there's a support service or organisation that has been missed, or if contact details need to be updated.