Seeking help for the first time in a crisisSeeking help for the first time in a crisis
All In The Mind
If you’ve noticed a change in your mental well-being over the past few weeks you’re not alone. As the effects of the pandemic and the conditions of isolation begin to be take hold, many Australians are searching for support for the first time in their lives. So if you choose to ask for help, how do you take the first steps.
30:08•26 Apr 2020
Seeking Help in a Crisis: First Steps Toward Mental Health Support
Episode Overview
- You don’t need to be in extreme crisis or suicidal to call a mental health helpline.
- Helpline counsellors can guide you through simple grounding tools such as breathing and mindfulness in the moment.
- Telehealth and online programmes for anxiety and depression can be as effective as face-to-face therapy when evidence-based and supported.
- Early contact with services, whether via phone, web chat or a GP, may help reduce worsening mental health over time.
- Friends, family, games and small daily activities can be useful first steps, with professional support available when those aren’t enough.
“You don't need to be at that very end of the line. And you don't need to not call them because you think your problem isn't big enough.”
In this eye-opening episode, you'll learn about what it’s like to seek mental health support for the first time during a global crisis. All In The Mind turns its attention to ordinary Australians whose lives have been shaken by COVID-19, focusing on that daunting moment of asking for help when you’ve never done it before.
Science reporter Carl Smith shares the story of Eloise, who was already struggling with a new city, shaky housing and distance from loved ones when the pandemic hit. Overwhelmed and physically affected by stress, she reaches for a lifeline and calls a mental health helpline, realising, as she says, "You don't need to be at that very end of the line...
you can call that service." Her experience cuts through the myth that you have to be suicidal or "bad enough" to deserve support. Telephone counsellor Kelly Hode explains what actually happens on those calls: kind voices, gentle questions, and practical tools like breathing exercises and mindfulness to bring people back to the present. She stresses that you don’t need a script and that feeling nervous about calling is completely normal.
Beyond Blue CEO Georgie Harmon and clinical psychologist Associate Professor Jill Newby add a wider view, talking about rising anxiety, telehealth reforms, and evidence-backed digital programmes for depression and anxiety. Tony Fitzgerald from Kids Helpline highlights how children and teenagers are also reaching out, and why services must be accessible even to those without devices or data.
Through research findings, personal stories and frontline experience, the episode offers a clear message: you don’t have to wait for rock bottom to ask for support, and a simple phone call or web chat can be a meaningful first step. If you’ve ever wondered whether your worries "count" enough to reach out, this conversation might be the nudge you need to ask, who could you talk to today?
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