Are you experiencing unexpected and overwhelming emotions following the Bondi Junction attack? You’re not alone. In this support guide, you’ll find information and resources for understanding why it’s okay to feel how you’re feeling as well as ideas for taking care of your wellbeing.

Keep in mind ...

Helping kids cope

You might be experiencing:

You don't have to work through this alone

Ideas for taking care of your wellbeing

5 Senses Grounding Technique for Anxiety and Stress Relief – A simple mindfulness exercise on a light purple background with dark blue text. The instructions encourage you to take a moment to look at your surroundings and either in your head or out loud, list: 5 things you can see, 4 things you can feel, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell, and 1 thing you can taste to help stay present and calm.

Editor's note

This guide can help you understand why it’s okay to feel how you’re feeling and offer ways you can take care of your wellbeing.

This support guide can help you understand why it’s okay to feel how you’re feeling and offer ways you can take care of your wellbeing following the 2024 Bondi Junction stabbings.

Our Bondi Junction attack support guide helps you understand why it’s okay to feel how you’re feeling and offer ways you can take care of your wellbeing.

2024 Bondi Junction Attack: Wellbeing support guide

Supporting someone who is struggling with medication addiction can be challenging. Learn how to support them on their journey and take care of your own wellbeing.

Types of medications that are often misused

Non-prescription medications 

Prescription medications 

Why do people become addicted to medications?

The question is not why the addiction, but why the pain?

Learn more about addiction

Play a supportive role

How to approach the conversation with children

Keep it age-appropriate

Tell them the plan

Explain that it’s not their fault

Reassure children that they are still loved

Supporting someone with medication addiction can be challenging. Learn how to support them on their journey and care for your wellbeing.

Offers advice on how to care for someone with a medication addiction as well as tips for approaching the issue and where to find further support.

Understand what to expect when caring for someone with a medication addiction

Learn tips for approaching the issue and ways you can offer support

Find the tools, apps, and support services that feel right for you.

A guide for family members, friends, and carers of people who may be struggling with medication addiction.

Medication addiction: A guide for carers

Devices and social media are often an integral part of our day-to-day life, but how we use our devices can make a big difference to how we feel.

When I don’t have reception, there’s a weird part of me that’s secretly relieved to get a break from my phone, from how it makes me feel.

Tips to improve your relationship with technology

Refresh your home screen 

Set healthy limits

Create accountability

Go grayscale

Curate who you'll follow

Create 'powerful pauses'

Devices and social media are often an integral part of our day-to-day life, but how you use your devices can make a big difference to how you feel. 

Explains how things like social media, dating apps, and digital comms can impact your mental health and offers tips to improve your relationship with technology.

Understand why things like social media, dating apps, and emails can make you feel lonely

Consider how your current use of technology may be impacting your mental health

Learn tips for improving your relationship with technology and minimising screen time.

How our devices fuel loneliness

It's common to feel unsure or nervous about your first therapy session, but it's not as scary as you might think! Here's what to expect in your first therapy session. 

What to expect in your first therapy session

You may want to know

It felt so good to talk about my feelings, and not have to worry about what the other person was thinking. And the fact they were here for support. 

You might feel a bit nervous about your first therapy session, but it's not as scary as you might think! Here's what to expect in your first therapy session. 

Explains what your first therapy session might feel like and offers tips for making sure you've found the right therapist for you.

Understand what your first therapy session might feel like

Learn tips for making sure you’ve found the right therapist for you

Understand what can happen after your first therapy session.

Therapy can help you achieve your goals, but turning up to your session is only part of your wellbeing journey. Preparing for your therapy is equally important. Here's how to prepare for your therapy session.

Take note of things to discuss

Set your intention

Once you start therapy, the most important thing is to be willing to do the work that will help you. 

Turning up to your session is only part of your wellbeing journey and preparing for your therapy is equally important. Here's how to prepare for your therapy session.

Explains the importance of preparing for a therapy session, taking time to decompress after, and the benefits of doing 'homework' in between. 

Learn how you can get the most out of a therapy session by preparing beforehand

Understand the benefits of doing ‘homework’ in between therapy sessions

Learn why and how it can be helpful to take time to decompress after a therapy session.

Turning up to your session is an important part of your wellbeing journey.  Here's how to prepare for your therapy session.

Getting the most out of your therapy

Finding the right therapist is one of the most important success factors in therapy. In this article, you'll learn what to look for when choosing a therapist and what are the qualities of a good therapist.

At our first session together, she repeatedly spoke of how our sessions would be a safe, judgment free space. 

Why is picking the right therapist so important?

Finding the right therapist

Getting a Mental Health Treatment Plan is a great first step to making a lasting difference to how you’re feeling. It can be tricky or intimidating to navigate at first, so here we have broken it down to its simplest form.

Booking in to see my GP and getting a plan helped me take back some sense of control. I decided I wanted to feel better for me and only me.

What to expect during your GP appointment

I was stuck inside my own head and couldn’t see a way out. Opening up about my mental health and getting another perspective was the only way I could move forward.

(Ideally) book into a GP with an interest in mental health

Reflect on your goals or future hopes

Prepare any questions you have

Take the time you need

Check for any pricing gap with your mental health professional

Getting a Mental Health Treatment Plan is a great first step to improving your wellbeing. However, it can be tricky to navigate, so we've broken it down for you.

Explains what a Mental Health Treatment Plan is, how to request one from your GP, and tips for getting the most out of your GP visit.

Understand what a Mental Health Treatment Plan is and how it can help you

Learn how to request a Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP and what to expect

Discover tips for getting the most out of your GP visit and Mental Health Treatment Plan.

Getting a Mental Health Treatment Plan is a great first step to improve how you’re feeling. It can be tricky to navigate, so we've broken it down for you.

What is a Mental Health Treatment Plan?

Learn how Lifeline can support you, what to expect when you reach out, and the different ways to connect with a crisis supporter.

Are you an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person who'd prefer being supported by mob?

What happens when I call, text, or chat with Lifeline?

Calling 13 11 14

Texting 0477 13 11 14

Chatting online

What happens when you contact Lifeline

The crisis supporter wasn’t overwhelmed by how I was feeling. I knew if I had called a friend or family member, they would have been scared. But she wasn’t. She was everything I needed in that moment. And because of her, I got home safe and found the courage to call my GP the next day.

What if Lifeline doesn’t feel right for me, but I still need support?

Explains the different ways to contact Lifeline, what to expect when you connect with a crisis supporter, and how Lifeline might be able to help.

Understand the different ways you can contact Lifeline

Learn what to expect when you connect with a Lifeline crisis supporter

Discover what types of support options are available and feel right for you.

Contacting Lifeline

Family, friends, and communities can play a big role in helping each other in challenging times. Learn tips for reaching out and offering support to someone you’re concerned about.

What can I say to someone I’m concerned about?

Signs someone might be struggling with their mental health

nfographic titled 'Correcting common misconceptions about reaching out.' It highlights three misconceptions about mental health conversations and provides facts to address them:  Misconception: 'I might make things worse.' Fact: 'Talking about mental health doesn’t create problems. It shows you care and opens the door for the other person to share.'  Misconception: 'They don’t want to talk.' Fact: 'Saying worries out loud can make them feel more manageable. Many people feel relieved when someone acknowledges their struggles.'  Misconception: 'I probably can’t help.' Fact: 'You don’t need to be a professional. Simply being there and listening with empathy can make a big difference.'  The design includes checkmarks next to each fact, with a clean layout and supportive tone.

An infographic titled 'Handling conversations with C.A.R.E.' features four quadrants, each explaining a component of the C.A.R.E. framework for supporting someone's mental health:  Connect: Create a safe, judgement-free space. Ask: Help them feel heard and understood. Remind: Help them see their strengths and support options. Empower: Encourage them to identify next steps they can take. At the top, an illustration shows two people sitting and talking, emphasising a caring and supportive conversation.

Tips for connecting

Tips for asking questions

Tips for reminding

Tips for empowering

You don't need to have all the answers. Simply holding space while offering compassion and respect can mean the world to someone who’s having a hard time.

What to do if the other person appears suicidal

Signs someone may be thinking about suicide

No person should have to face their darkest moments alone.

Supporting someone who isn't ready to talk

Reassure them that the door is always open

Stay present in their life

Be patient

Click here to listen to Anthony's story of holding on to hope

Signs to look out for in kids and young people

Family, friends, and communities play a big role in helping each other in challenging times. Learn tips for offering support to someone you’re concerned about.

Offers guidance on starting a conversation about mental health with someone you’re worried about, plus links to further support services and resources.

Helps readers recognise signs that someone may be struggling with their mental health

Offers practical tips to approach conversations with care, empathy, and confidence

Lists support services, tools, and resources for ongoing help and guidance.

How to talk to someone about their mental health

Learn practical tips for speaking with a crisis supporter, explore calming strategies, and find reassurance that whatever you’re going through is valid and you’re not alone.

You deserve support no matter what you’re facing

A crisis is anything that makes you feel like you can’t cope right now.

What to expect when connecting with a crisis supporter

If you're feeling stuck or unsure how to begin, these simple phrases can help open the conversation:

You might say:

Calming strategies for before, during, or after your Lifeline interaction

Box breathing

5 senses technique

Feel your feet or hands

Recite something in order

Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR)

Real stories from others who’ve reached out to Lifeline

Finding the support that’s right for you

You can contact Lifeline 24/7 via 13 11 14, text, and chat. Learn practical tips for speaking with a crisis supporter, explore calming strategies, and find reassurance that whatever you’re going through is valid and you’re not alone. 

Learn practical tips for contacting Lifeline, explore calming strategies, and find reassurance that whatever you’re going through is valid and you’re not alone.

Reaching out to Lifeline: What to expect and how to feel more prepared

If you or someone you care about has been impacted by suicide, this support guide can help. Find information and resources for understanding why it’s okay to feel how you’re feeling as well as ideas for taking care of your wellbeing.

Has someone close to you talked about, attempted, or died by suicide?

If you've been touched by suicide, you may:

For every 1 suicide, up to 135 people can be impacted.

You may find your experience even more difficult to process if you:

You don't have to face this alone.

Talk to someone you trust

If you don’t feel like you have someone to reach out to or you would like to talk to someone now, Lifeline is here for you.

Set time aside to worry

Do a digital detox

Practise mindfulness or meditation

Use a grounding technique

Find safety and support

Being a supporter doesn’t mean stopping someone from feeling the way they do. It’s about walking alongside someone through their experience.

Supporting children who have been touched by suicide

Signs and effects in children

Here are a few ways you can provide support

Supporting those touched by suicide at work, on campus, or within a group

Click here to download the StandBy Support After Suicide Toolkit

If you or someone you care about has been touched by suicide, this support guide can help you understand why it’s okay to feel how you’re feeling and offer ways to take care of your wellbeing.

Helps anyone impacted by a suicide death, suicide attempt, or suicidal behaviour of someone they aren't closely related to or directly connected with understand their emotions and find ways to feel better.

This guide is for anyone impacted by a suicide death, suicide attempt, or suicidal behaviour of someone they aren't closely related to or directly connected with.

Helps with understanding why it's okay to feel the way you're feeling

Provides tips and advice for supporting others.

If you've been impacted by suicide, this support guide can help you understand why it’s okay to feel how you’re feeling and offer ways to feel better.

Touched by Suicide: Wellbeing support guide

Parents, carers, and trusted adults can play a big role in supporting a child or young person through challenging times. Learn practical tips for starting a conversation and creating a safe space for them to open up.

What should I do if I’m concerned about a child or young person’s mental health?

You don’t know the effect it can have, but just physically being there for someone can make all the difference.

Signs a child or young person might need support

Signs in kids can include:

Signs in young people can include:

With kids, try to:

With young people, try to:

What to do if a child or young person appears suicidal

If you’re worried a young person is at risk of suicide, it’s important to act quickly.

Helpful reads from the Support Toolkit you can share:

Offers practical tips to start a conversation with a child or young person you’re worried about, plus links to further support services and resources.

Helps readers recognise the signs that a child or young person might be struggling

Offers practical tips to start a conversation with a child or young person about mental health

Lists support services, tools, and apps that can help children, young people, and the adults who care about them.

Parents, carers, and trusted adults can play a big role in supporting a child or young person through challenging times. Learn tips for starting conversations.

How to talk to a child or young person you're concerned about

This guide offers practical support and simple advice to help you navigate uncertainty, look after your wellbeing, and take steps toward stability, no matter where you are on your journey.

Help is available for anyone experiencing homelessness

Free meals and foodbanks

Emergency and short-term housing services

Where to rest, stay warm, and access essentials

Staying safe in shelters

Protecting your belongings

Avoiding isolation

Staying safe if using substances

Homelessness can impact every part of life. This guide offers practical support and simple advice to help you navigate uncertainty, look after your wellbeing, and take steps toward stability, no matter where you are on your journey.

This guide offers practical support and simple advice to help you navigate uncertainty, look after your wellbeing, and take steps toward stability when facing homelessness.

Help with homelessness: Resources for wellbeing, safety, and stability

Articles that will guide you to understanding and managing your mental health.

Support Guides

I’m looking for help with...

Filter results by...

Oops, no results found!

If you're still looking for something, our quiz might be able to help.