13-Feb-2019
–This service is no longer running–
Phone and online counselling service NQ Connect has expanded its services in response to the recent Queensland floods.
Launched in mid-2018, NQ Connect was established to provide free phone and online counselling and mental health support to people in the Northern Queensland Primary Health Network region.
In response to the Queensland flooding emergency, NQ Connect has partnered with the Northern Queensland and Western Queensland Primary Health Networks to expand its services and provide dedicated mental and social health support to people affected by the natural disaster. Counselling and support has also been extended to include flood-affected areas within the Western Queensland Primary Health Network region.
The expansion of NQ Connect services has been possible thanks to additional Federal Government funding.
What can people call or chat online about?
NQ Connect provides counselling and support to people who have been affected by flooding.
People can contact NQ Connect if they are concerned about issues like:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Drug and alcohol abuse
- Feeling hopeless
- Grief and loss
- Isolation, disconnection and loneliness
- Relationship and family problems
- Stress.
NQ Connect counsellors will listen and support. They work with the caller to develop a personalised coping strategy. This could take a number of forms, from counselling for people who are worried, stressed, or anxious, to more complex assistance for people who could benefit from multiple health service providers and referrals.
Who are the counsellors?
NQ Connect operates 24/7 and provides free and safe counselling over the phone and online. All staff are professional counsellors (there are no volunteers) who have demonstrated a minimum of 456 post-qualification hours of face-to-face counselling experience. All NQ Connect counsellors also hold a tertiary degree in a relevant discipline of psychology, social work, counselling and social science or welfare studies.
How to get help
Anyone in the region aged 15 or over can speak to a professional NQ Connect counsellor. Simply call 1300 059 625 or log on to the online counselling web chat service. As mentioned, the lines are open 24/7.
More information
This media release explains the full scope of the recent service expansion.
–This service is no longer running–