The below online programs and phone apps may be helpful self help tools. Please note that research into the effectiveness of online programs and apps is limited. These are not suggested as more effective or in place of direct professional support. However you may find these helpful in addition to working with a professional and to support your treatment. Please speak with your professional supports regarding the usefulness of these programs to support your own recovery.
Please note – some apps are for free while others have a small fee. Some apps are compatible with all ISO phones, others are specific to specific phone providers. Choices Mind & Body make no profit from apps listed below.
Carers
Website to coordinate help from friends,
family and neighbours. Roster help
such as meals, transport, childcare, home
help and social connection. Helps invite people
to offer support within your network.
Domestic Violence
Connect women with family violence to support near them, access within the app so they don’t show in browser history.
Penda is a financial empowerment app for women, with a domestic and family violence focus.
App for women with disability who have experienced violence and abuse.
The Emergency+ app is a free app developed by Australia’s emergency services and their government and industry partners.
Positive Pathways is a safety and wellbeing app for women experiencing domestic and family violence. It looks like a wellness app with inspirational quotes, positive moments and a daily dairy that is password protected.
App used by kids but it can be used by anyone to increase their safety. The app has a warning alarm that can be sounded when a person is in danger and send a message to contacts in their safety network.
App designed to assist women to collect and store evidence to help them get an intervention order, or to prove a breach (recommended for Victorian use only).
Eating Disorders
Online self-help program delivering Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Binge Eating Disorder and Bulimia Nervosa. Free 18+yo.
Interactive tool to support people who have eating and body concerns, and who feel distressed because of these concerns.
Free app to help you with the rollercoaster ride of having a baby. Focusing on the 10 most difficult aspects of dealing with this challenging time, tips and support links.
General Health and Wellbeing
Centre for Clinical Intervention
They have a number of self help work books which can be down loaded. Work books are provided for a number of difficulties including, anxiety, mood, and eating disorders, self esteem, relaxation and stress management
Culture Dose – Black Dog Institute
A free self-help interactive program with modules for depression, generalised anxiety & worry, social anxiety, relationship breakdown, and loss & grief.
An interactive self-help online program for people 18 years or older that aims to promote resilience, wellbeing, and good mental health. It also provides modules designed to help manage mild to moderate stress, anxiety, and depression.
Culture Dose – Black Dog Institute
Online art experience with your wellbeing as its primary focus. Linked to a study to support wellbeing via engaging with art.
Offers self-help and therapy resources, including worksheets and information sheets, and self-help mp3 downloads.
A number of helpful apps related to mental health, relationships, relaxation, health and wellbeing, dealing with stress, increasing your independence, and substance use are listed on the website.
Daniel Siegel – Interpersonal neurobiology
Websites with links to audio resources related to mindfulness, understanding the neurobiological aspects to wellbeing, stress, trauma and parenting.
An interactive program run by the Australian National University offering free cognitive behavioural therapy self-help support and prevention for depression and anxiety.
Grief
information, tools and resources to support bereaved
people and also provides practical strategies for families
and friends on how best to support someone in the
midst of their bereavement. Can provide you with a number
of personally tailored strategies.
Parenting Support
Free, online program for Australian parents and caregivers of children 2 to 16. It provides evidence-based parenting strategies to improve parenting skills, confidence and child behaviour.
A parenting program, which offers a toolbox of ideas. You choose the strategies you need. You choose the way you want to use them.
Free app to help you with the rollercoaster ride of having a baby. Focusing on the 10 most difficult aspects of dealing with this challenging time, tips and support links.
Relaxfulness / Mindfulness
A free meditation app for anyone who wants to feel less stressed, more calm and present and experience greater health and wellbeing. Uses an easy approach using 12 short steps and no prior experience with meditation is necessary.
Allows you to focus yourself in a moment of stress or low mood. It will take you through simple steps to help you, be you and work toward a sense of balance. Note the contact numbers are UK based and not relevant in Australia.
Sleep, Meditation and Relaxation app. You can try it for free.
Recharge is a personalised six-week program that helps improve your general health and wellbeing by focusing on how to improve sleep routines.
Parenting Support
A free meditation app which takes you through the basics of meditation, with progress pages to track your stats and reminders to help you with your practice.
Recharge
A free meditation program with exercises that can help you reduce stress and relax. It provides an easy-to-follow program that will help with the three C’s, “clarity, calmness and contentment”.
Substance Use
AODconnect is a national directory of alcohol and other drug treatment services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
A free app which asks questions about your smoking habits and helps to set up a personalized plan to quit smoking. It provides different options for quitting, keeps track of your use and cravings, it provides reminders of your progress, and community support links.
BDZ digital health is a free six module information web & mobile intervention program for benzodiazepine dosage reduction.
Help track progress, design own recovery and access information, resources and tools during your recovery. Can be used individually or whilst engaging in smart recovery group programs.
A free app personalised to help you quit smoking when you feel ready. You can set your own goals, the reasons you’re quitting, include photos and recordings of loved ones.
A tool aimed to help young people explore where they are at with their use of drugs or alcohol. There are questions to be answered which provide feedback, advice and suggestions for support if it may be needed.
Suicide
Safety planning app helps you stay safe if you’re experiencing suicidal thoughts, feelings, distress or crisis.
Resources for skills building from Dialectical Behaviour Therapy or DBT framework which may be helpful for people considering suicide.
Trauma
The PTSD Coach Australia app can help you learn about and manage symptoms that commonly occur after trauma.
Online program designed to support people 18yo + who have experienced trauma in their life and who use alcohol or other drugs. It has four modules, each containing a new idea, information, or technique.
Free app to help you with the rollercoaster ride of having a baby. Focusing on the 10 most difficult aspects of dealing with this challenging time, tips and support links.
Online Peer Help and Forums
A fellowship of people who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. Peer led 12 step programs.
Letterbox Project the delivery of handwritten letters from the wider community to people experiencing isolation and loneliness.
Online Hobby Groups – like traditional hobby groups though online format so people anywhere in Australia can join. Open for all ages, but were developed to be more inclusive for a younger demographic (18 – 75)
For anyone who needs to reconnect or just wants a chat. All conversations with FriendLine are anonymous and our friendly volunteers are ready for a yarn and to share a story or two.
Also commonly known as community centres, learning centres, community houses or neighbourhood centres, these inclusive community-based organisations welcome people of all ages, abilities and walks of life.
Anxiety and Recovery Support Groups and Online forums- ARCVIC
Peer led, Mutual Self-Help Support Groups provide an opportunity for people to help one another, support one another in a confidential and safe space.
eFriend is a FREE service that allows people who are feeling low, lonely or isolated to virtually connect via video, phone or online chat with peer workers who can offer insight, provide hope, and empathise from their own lived experience.
For Adults living, working or studying in Brimbank or Wyndham.
Peer led gathering of recovering addicts, who meet regularly for the purpose of recovery from the disease of addiction. Follow 12 step program.
Online Health coach with lived experience to support recovery in a variety of areas including addiction and mental health. Paid service. Website will soon include brief information podcast focused on a number of mental health difficulties.
Around the dinner table – Online peer forum for parents and carers of those struggling with eating disorders.
24hours, 7 days per week free telephone and online counselling service for men with family and relationship concerns
Referrals can be sent to the Peninsula Health ACCESS Service, complete online by clicking here
Forums are a safe place to share your experience of living with complex mental health issues and connect with others with lived experience, read their stories, reply and start your own discussions.
Women’s friendship café run from multiple locations in south east Melbourne regions.
A social connection and well-being option for men to be in the company of other men whilst often working on meaningful projects in a safe and friendly environment. All men’s shed function a little differently.
The Reclink National Program provides opportunities for social engagement through sport and recreation for people experiencing disadvantage.
A number of health and wellbeing and leadership group programs, for men, women, youth, indigenous, and culturally diverse groups.