Emergency and crisis
There are a range of services available to provide support and immediate response to people in crisis or in need of urgent medical care.
These include:
- emergency medical care
- emergency medical transport
- 24 hour telephone counselling, advice and referral services
- individual and family crisis assistance
- psychiatric or drug related emergencies.
Ambulance services
St John Ambulance Australia (WA)
Hospital emergency departments
Emergency departments in public hospitals provide free emergency care to anyone who needs immediate treatment for a serious injury or illness.
Read more about health care options and hospital emergency departments.
Metropolitan hospital emergency services
The metropolitan hospitals listed in this section provide 24 hour emergency services for people who have had a serious accident or suddenly become ill and require urgent medical care.
View the current status of metropolitan public hospital emergency department wait times.
Country hospital emergency services
Country hospitals and nursing posts provide or can arrange emergency services. Ambulance services or the Royal Flying Doctor Service can also help you access these services. Health services information can be found using the National Health Services Directory.
Royal Flying Doctor Service (WA)
Telephone services
Various telephone services are available to assist people or provide referral to services which can help.
healthdirect
Mental Health Emergency Response Line
- Metro callers – Phone 1300 555 788 (local call)
- Peel callers – Free call 1800 676 822 (free from land line only)
- Country callers – 1800 552 002 (RuralLink – free from land line only)
- Visit the Mental Health Commission website (external site)
Alcohol and Drug Support Service
Alcohol and Drug Support Line (formerly the Alcohol and Drug Information Service/ADIS)
24 hour 7 days a week, statewide counselling, information, referral and support to anyone concerned about their own or another person’s alcohol or drug use.
Phone: (08) 9442 5000 (metro callers) or 1800 198 024 (country callers)
Email: alcoholdrugsupport@mhc.wa.gov.au
Website: Mental Health Commission (external site)
Live chat: Visit Alcohol. Think Again. (external site) or Drug Aware (external site)
Parent and Family Drug Support Line (formerly the Parent Drug Information Service/PDIS)
24 hour 7 days a week, statewide counselling, information, referral and support for anyone concerned about a loved one’s alcohol or drug use.
Phone: (08) 9442 5050 (metro callers) or 1800 653 203 (country callers)
Email: alcoholdrugsupport@mhc.wa.gov.au
Website: Mental Health Commission (external site)
Live chat: Visit Alcohol. Think Again. (external site) or Drug Aware (external site)
Working Away Alcohol and Drug Support Line
24 hour 7 days a week, statewide counselling, information and referral to support the health and wellbeing of working away from home communities including FIFO/fly-in-fly-out workers, their families and friends.
Phone: 1800 721 997 (country callers)
Email: workingaway@mhc.wa.gov.au
Website: Mental Health Commission (external site)
Live chat: Visit Alcohol. Think Again. (external site) or Drug Aware (external site)
Meth Helpline
24 hour 7 days a week, statewide counselling, information, referral and support to anyone concerned about their own or another person’s methamphetamine use.
Phone: 1800 874 878
Email: alcoholdrugsupport@mhc.wa.gov.au
Website: Mental Health Commission (external site)
Live chat: Visit Alcohol. Think Again. (external site) or Drug Aware (external site)
Drug Aware
Drug Aware is a program that targets young people with messages about drug use, focussing on the prevention of drug use and associated harm. It aims to do this by providing credible, factual information that people make informed decisions.
Do you need some information about drugs? Or have you got a question about your own or someone else's drug use?
To contact Drug Aware you can:
- Email (external site) – Your email will be answered as soon as possible during business hours, as this service is not staffed 24 hours a day.
- Chat online (external site) and confidentially to a qualified alcohol and other drugs counsellor (click chat button on home page). This service is provided free-of-charge for residents of Western Australia and is operated between the hours of 7.00am and 11.00pm.
If your question cannot be answered, you will be pointed in the right direction.
Child Protection Unit (formerly Child Sexual Abuse Unit)
Family Help Line
- Phone: (08) 9223 1100
- Outside metro area: Free call 1800 643 000 (free from land line only)
Kids Help Line
Ngala
- 9 George Street, Kensington WA 6151
- Phone: (08) 9368 9368
- Outside metro area – Free call 1800 111 546 (free from land line only)
- Visit the Ngala website (external site)
Poisons Information Centre
Samaritans Crisis Line (formerly Suicide Emergency Line – Country)
Sexual Assault Resource Centre (SARC)
- Phone: (08) 9340 1828 (crisis line 24 hours)
- Outside metro area – Free call 1800 199 888 (free from a land line only)
- Find out more about the Sexual Assault Resource Centre
Women and Newborn Drug and Alcohol Service (WANDAS)
This publication is provided for education and information purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical care. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not imply endorsement and is not intended to replace advice from your healthcare professional. Readers should note that over time currency and completeness of the information may change. All users should seek advice from a qualified healthcare professional for a diagnosis and answers to their medical questions.