Resources for gamers

Online and phone services

Gambler’s Help Youthline

Phone: 1800 262 376

Website: http://www.responsiblegambling.vic.gov.au/

Description: Given the similarities between problem gaming and gambling (and sometimes gambling via games) young people can call for a free, confidential chat anytime.
On the website, check out the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation’s Gambling is No Game campaign.

Kids Helpline

Phone:  1800 551 800

Website: http://www.kidshelp.com.au/

Description: Kids Helpline offers a free, private and confidential, telephone and online counselling service specifically for young people aged between 5 and 25, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Youthbeyondblue

Phone: 1300 22 4636, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Website: http://www.youthbeyondblue.com/ Chat online 4pm – 10pm

Description: Around 550,000 young people aged 16–24 years live with depression or anxiety. Youthbeyondblue aims to empower young people aged 12–25, their friends and those who care for them to respond to depression and anxiety.

Headspace

Phone: 1800 650 890

Website: http://www.headspace.org.au/

Description: Free online and telephone service that supports young people aged between 12 and 25 and their families going through a tough time.

Gambling Help Online

Phone: 1800 858 858 24/7 free and confidential service

Website: http://www.gamblinghelponline.org.au

Description: Provides free, anonymous, 24/7 online support, self-help tools and information for identifying and dealing with problem gambling Australia-wide.

ReachOut

Website: http://au.reachout.com/

Description: ReachOut is an Australian online youth mental health service that aims to help people under 25 stay connected and get through tough times. The site has practical tools, forums and information in a safe and anonymous online environment.

Face to Face Services

South Australia

Relationships Australia SA

Phone: (08) 8223 4566

Website:  https://www.rasa.org.au

Description: A South Australia-based not for profit, secular, community organisation that provides a range of services, including counselling.

Gambling Help Services

Website: www.problemgambling.sa.gov.au

Description: This web site, operated by the South Australia Department for Communities and Social Inclusion has a range of resources related to gambling, including a list of face to face services throughout the state of South Australia.

National

Relationships Australia

Phone: 1300 364 277

Website: http://relationships.org.au

Description: If you live outside South Australia, the national office of Relationships Australia can assist you in finding services available to you where you live.
Call them on 1300 364 277 or visit the website.

Other Useful websites and articles

NIIRA

Website: http://www.niira.org.au/resources-for-public

Description: The Network for Internet Investigation and Research in Australia, (NIIRA) is a website run by researchers specialists of internet-related disorders. While a lot of the stuff on their site is aimed at parents and counsellors, older gamers may find the articles interesting.

Article: My only friends are online

URL: http://au.reachout.com/My-only-friends-are-online

Description: This article from the ReachOut site is for gamers who may feel they don’t have many friends to get offline for.

Black Dog Institute

Website: http://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/

Description: The “black dog” was Winston Churchill’s way of referring to his depression. The Black Dog Institute combines expertise in clinical management with research and applies it to the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mood disorders. It has loads of great information and videos.

Children of Parents with Mental Illness

Website: http://copmi.net.au/kids-teens-young-adults.html

Description: If one of the reasons you game too much is to cope with family members with mental illnesses, this site offers a range of advice and links to services.