Support Act Wellbeing Helpline

About the Support Act Wellbeing Helpline 

• The Helpline is facilitated by Support Act but run by an external organisation, AccessEAP. 
• It is available 24/7when you need either emergency assistance or to book a first counselling session, the service extends to an initial set of six sessions. 
• Dedicated helplines have recently been added to the service, one for First Nations artists and another for managers who need help supporting a team about  their mental health and wellbeing.
• Clinicians are experienced in using the National Relay Service, you can also request an Auslan or Deaf / Blind Tactile interpreter, or request to connect with a clinician who signs.
• You can contact the Helpline initially in writing if you prefer via a form on the Support Act website.
• If you need to contact the Helpline on the behalf of someone else in the industry, you are welcome to do so. 
• Counselling sessions can take place over email contact, as a phone call, or via Zoom.

How the Support Act Wellbeing Helpline works during office hours (8am-6pm Australian Eastern Time)

• Call 1800 959 500
• You will be offered 4 automated options to proceed:

1. Emergency counselling session
2. Book a counselling session
3. Transfer to the dedicated First Nations Helpline
4. Transfer to the dedicated Manager Support Helpline

• If you require urgent assistance you will briefly talk with a person from the intake team who will ask what part of the music or arts industries you are from so that you can be directly transferred through to a counsellor with the appropriate experience. 
• If you are calling to make an appointment, a person from the booking team will likely be able to make an appointment for a counselling session within the next 1-2 days.

How the Support Act Wellbeing Helpline works outside of office hours (6pm-8am Australian Eastern Time)

• Call 1800 959 500
• You will be offered 4 automated options to proceed:

1. Emergency counselling session
2. Book a counselling session
3. Transfer to the dedicated First Nations Helpline
4. Transfer to the dedicated Manager Support Helpline

• If you require urgent assistance you will briefly talk with a person from the intake team who will transfer you straight through to the counsellor on call, or if they are in another emergency session they will call you back as urgently as possible. Please note that the availability of First Nations clinicians and Auslan or Deaf / Blind Tactile interpreters are limited outside of office hours.
• If you are calling to make an appointment, a person from the booking team will call you back within office hours to book one in within 1-2 days.

Support Act is a charity primarily focused on the music industry in Australia. In 2018 it launched the Wellbeing Helpline which is a free, confidential 24/7 counselling service for anyone in the music or arts industries who need to talk about any aspect of their mental health.