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headspace provides information, support and services to young people, aged 12-25 years, and their families and friends across Australia. headspace welcomes and supports young people of any ethnicity, culture, faith, sexual orientation and gender identity.
What can headspace help with?
If you’re a young person aged between 12-25 years, headspace provides a range of services to improve your health and wellbeing.
Our services cover four core areas: mental health and wellbeing, physical and sexual health, work and study support, and alcohol and other drug services.
headspace can help if you’re experiencing changes in thoughts, feelings or behaviours, or just not feeling yourself.
headspace can also help if you:
- are feeling down, stressed or worried a lot of the time
- want to talk about relationships
- want to talk about sexuality or gender identity
- are having difficulty with family or friends
- have been bullied, hurt or harassed
- just aren’t feeling yourself.
headspace has youth-friendly general practitioners (GPs) and nurses who can help you with any physical health issues. A GP or nurse can also help you with issues related to contraception, sexual health, relationship problems, or if you’re feeling down or upset.
If alcohol and other drugs are starting to affect other things that matter to you, like your mental and physical health, wellbeing or friendships, headspace can help.
headspace work and study specialists can help you if you’re struggling at school, unsure about what course you want to do, need help writing a resume, or if you’re searching for a job.
Getting support can help you stay on track at school, study or work, and in your personal and family relationships. The sooner you get help the sooner things can begin to improve for you.
You can also receive online and telephone support through the headspace Work and Study service.
headspace centres
headspace centres can help you access the right health worker. While you can go to any headspace centre, some centres also have specialist workers like Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers and family therapists.
You can contact a headspace centre no matter how big or small your concern may seem.
How to book an appointment
It’s as simple as phoning or emailing your nearest headspace centre to find a time that suits you. You can also ask a friend, teacher, parent, other family member, health worker or community agency to contact headspace for you.
Your local headspace centre might also have a ‘drop in’ service where you can visit during opening hours. Call your nearest headspace centre.
What should I know about my first appointment?
Appointments at a headspace centre can vary in length but are usually 50 minutes to an hour.It’s OK to feel nervous about getting help. It can be helpful to bring along someone you trust.
You’ll probably be asked a lot of questions on your first visit. This is to make sure that all the important issues are covered, and to help develop the best solution for you. It’s natural to feel nervous when you start to see someone new. But as you get to know and trust your headspace worker you will probably find it easier to talk about what’s going on.
The appointment is your time. Feel free to ask questions about anything that’s on your mind so the headspace worker can help you find the best solution or find the information that you need. It also helps the headspace worker to understand what’s worrying you.
How much does an appointment cost?
Services at a headspace centre are either free, or have a low cost. You can ask if there is a cost when you make your appointment. Some services require you to have a referral from a doctor, but headspace can help you with this too.
eheadspace
If you don’t have a headspace centre nearby or you don’t feel ready to visit a centre, eheadspace provides confidential online and telephone support 7 days a week.
All eheadspace services are free, but if you call from your mobile your usual call charges apply.
To access eheadspace for the first time all you need to do is register or phone 1800 650 890. You will need to provide some information like your email address, postcode and age.
If you are receiving support from a headspace centre or another service, eheadspace may ask your permission to speak with your worker to ensure eheadspace is providing the best possible support.
Is talking to headspace confidential?
When you talk to a headspace worker, what you say is kept confidential. This means nothing you say can be passed on to anyone else without your permission – but there are a few exceptions.
If a headspace worker is seriously worried about your safety or the safety of someone else they must, by law, try to keep everyone safe. This means they might have to share their concerns with someone else. Talk to your headspace worker about confidentiality to ensure you understand how it works.
Getting the help that's right for you
When you talk with a headspace worker, it’s important that you feel safe and comfortable. Some people prefer to seek support from someone of the same gender, or someone who understands their cultural background. We’ll do our best to make sure this happens.
If you don’t think your headspace sessions are working out, there could be a few reasons. It might be because it is hard to talk through certain issues, or it might be that you and your worker are not the right fit.
Whatever the reason, don’t give up. You have the right to work with someone you connect with. If you feel comfortable, you can talk with your worker about how you are feeling and together you can find a way forward. If you don’t feel comfortable talking to your worker about this, that’s OK. All you need to do is let us know through our admin staff, and we’ll take it from there and get back to you.
For more information, to find your nearest headspace centre or for online and telephone support, visit eheadspace
The headspace Content Reference Group oversee and approve clinical resources made available on this website.
Last reviewed 13 Feb 2024
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