Mental Health
Addressing mental health problems often entails a wholistic view of managing body, social connections and thought processes.
As well as exploring the material above, you can dig a little deeper and take some detailed information from the booklets below or grab some of our resources on managing mental health problems.
Printed booklets are available at Counselling Support offices at North Terrace, Roseworthy and Waite campuses. All the mental health related books have BLUE covers. Note: Printed booklets currently unavailable.
The following pages on the wellbeing hub website will provide additional information that may help you.
Page | Description |
---|---|
Extension policy for health conditions at AU | Review the criteria for assessment extensions based on mental health conditions (this is classified as 'medical circumstances'). |
The breath | The breath is a remarkably powerful mind-body connection which we can use effectively to manage our physical and mental health. |
Mind & body | We spend much of our lives constantly connected to events, screens and people - forgetting to be present with ourselves. |
Exercise | Regular exercise may be one of the most important things you can do for your health. |
Be positive |
This is doing stuff that feels good, having fun, 'letting the good times roll'. More than this, it can include maximising good feelings like curiosity, appreciation, compassion and wonder. |
Sleep better | Sleep can help us feel refreshed, re-energised, help with focus and concentration, and improve memory, whilst also allowing our body and mind to do necessary repair work. |
Useful Techniques |
Fortunately there are many useful techniques and skills that can help us function and adapt to our particular circumstances. |
Digital tools and apps
From the Black Dog Institute, online tools and apps to help support wellbeing including:
- Headgear - 30 day mental wellbeing and resilience challenge
- iBobbly - Indigenous wellbeing self help
- MyCompass - tools to support your mental health
Services providing face to face treatment
- Centre for the Treatment of Anxiety Disorders (CTAD)
- Centre for Anxiety and Related Disorders (CARD)
- SONDER
- HEADSPACE
Services providing other forms of support
- Lived Experience Support Service
- beyondblue
- Youper - an app to assist with emotional support
- Borderline Personality Disorder collaborative
- Reachout
- eHeadspace
- Kids Helpline (up to the age of 25 years)
- Lifeline
Services providing online treatment
- Centre for Clinical Interventions
- Moodgym A free online treatment program using cognitive behaviour therapy principles
- Mindspot A free online treatment program focusing on anxiety and depression
- MoodMission A free app to assist with feelings of depression and anxiety
- This way up Involves a small fee
- Mental health online Therapist supported program
- ECouch self-help interactive program with modules for depression, generalised anxiety & worry, social anxiety, relationship breakdown, and loss & grief
- My Compass Free
- Mydigital Health Offers a variety of treatment programs
- International students with Allianz Care cover - Doctors on Demand
Emergency services

Mental Health First Aid Training
This course teaches people (18 years and over) how to offer initial support to adults who are developing a mental health problem, experiencing a worsening of an existing mental health problem or in a mental health crisis, until appropriate professional help is received or the crisis resolved.
The course curriculum is evidence-based, as informed by the MHFA guidelines
What is the standard mental health first aid course?
Course participants learn about the signs and symptoms of the common and disabling mental health problems, how to provide initial help, where and how to get professional help, what sort of help has been shown by research to be helpful.
Topics covered
- Depression
- Anxiety problems
- Psychosis
- Substance use problems
- Suicidal thoughts and behaviours
- Non-suicidal self-injury
- Panic attacks
- Traumatic events
- Severe psychotic states
- Severe effects from alcohol or other drug use
- Aggressive behaviours
Participants will learn the signs and symptoms of mental health problems, where and how to get help and what sort of help has been shown by research to be effective.
Course format
- Training is free for students and staff. For bookings and for further information please contact Jill Allen jillian.allen@adelaide.edu.au
- The course runs over 2 consecutive days as face to face training (generally from 10am to 4:30pm)
Who can attend
- Staff and Students of the University of Adelaide (18 years or over) - there are no prerequisites for this course.
Refresher
- Refresher courses are now being offered to those who have completed there MHFA certificate within the last three years. If you completed your certificate more than three years ago, you will need to contact Mental Health First Aid Australia to confirm your eligibility. There may be some leeway of a few months over the three year period but this is up to MHFA Australia to determine. This course is also free for both staff and students and runs for approximately 4.5 hours. For bookings and for further information please contact Jill Allen
Course dates 2023
-
Staff dates
FEBRUARY
- Monday 13th & Tuesday 14th
MARCH
- Monday 6th & Tuesday 7th (FULL)
MAY
- Wednesday 10th & Thursday 11th (FULL)
- Monday 22nd & Tuesday 23rd (FULL)
JUNE
- Monday 5th & Tuesday 6th
JULY
- Monday 17th & Tuesday 18th (FULL)
AUGUST
- Wednesday 16th & Thursday 17th
- Thursday 31st & Friday 1st September
OCTOBER
- Monday 16th & Tuesday 17th
- Wednesday 25th & Thursday 26th
DECEMBER
- Monday 4th & Tuesday 5th
-
Student dates
FEBRUARY
- Wednesday 8th & Thursday 9th
MARCH
- Wednesday 22nd & Thursday 23rd
APRIL
- Wednesday 12th & Thursday 13th (FULL)
- Monday 17th & Tuesday 18th
MAY
- Tuesday 16th & Wednesday 17th
JULY
- Monday 3rd & Tuesday 4th (FULL)
- Wednesday 12th & Thursday 13th
SEPTEMBER
- Monday 18th & Tuesday 19th
- Monday 25th & Tuesday 26th
NOVEMBER
- Wednesday 22nd & Thursday 23rd
- Monday 27th & Tuesday 28th
-
Refresher Course
FEBRUARY
- Tuesday 7th 10am - 2pm
APRIL
- Monday 17th 10am - 2pm
JUNE
- Tuesday 20th June 10am - 2pm
JULY
- Wednesday 19th 10am - 2pm
DECEMBER
- Wednesday 6th 10am - 2pm
Being Well, Living Well is a self paced, MyUni course designed to support your wellbeing at uni. It contains evidence based, easy to read resources and activities to work through, and covers topics like:
- Study life balance
- Settling into uni
- Eating well
- Being active
- Managing stress and anxiety
- Perfectionism
- Building confidence
- Online safety, healthy relationships and bystander awareness
- Financial wellbeing.
You can enrol at any time during your study and complete modules that work for you.

University Mental Health Day, 3rd May 2022
#UniMentalHealthDay
No student should ever feel alone with their mental health. With campaigns, resources and services, our goal is to inspire conversations, take action and build a culture in which mental health and wellbeing are at the centre of your university experience.
Why is #UniMentalHealthDay important to you? Answering this question is an opportunity to help grow knowledge and understanding of the support and resources we have and also need to break down stigma and build a campus that supports everyone’s mental health. We will be asking this question on instagram and look forward to hearing your answers.
#UniMentalHealthDay is also an opportunity to pause and check in with yourself, check in with a friend and check out what support is available. Here are some links and resources to help:
Check in with yourself:
- Head to the Black Dog Institute and explore the range of self-assessment and self help materials. If you need support, please reach out for help. There are a list of supports available below.
- Spend some time exploring the topics above and read about common challenges people experience when it comes to wellbeing with tips on how to overcome them.
Check in with a friend:
- Give someone a call or reach out on social media and ask, “Are you going OK?” For ideas on how to ask, how to follow up and what to do when someone isn’t OK, check out these videos made by student clubs and associations as part of RUOK Day 2021.
Check out the support at uni:
There are lots of services available to support your wellbeing at uni. Spend some time finding out what’s available and how they can help. If you know a friend who can benefit, share the info with them.
- Find info on services like Disability Support, Counselling Support, Accommodation Service, Careers, International Student Support, Wirltu Yarlu and many more, on the Getting Support page.
- If you are concerned about issues related to safety, sexual harassment or sexual assault, you can find out who to talk to, how to report and emergency contacts on the Safer Campus Community page
- With services like the Maths Learning Centre, Writing Centre, PASS, English Assist, Suceed@Adelaide and peer support programs, you don’t have to experience study worries alone. Find out more on the Academic Skills page plus discover how Studiosity can help.
- If you are struggling, the Counselling Service is available 9-5, Mon to Friday, The University Crisis Line is available 5pm-9am and 24 hours on weekends or connect to Talk Campus, a peer based network available for download using your student ID.