Help someone you know
A practical guide for when you're worried about a friend, partner, colleague, or family member. It's not medical advice, but it can help you take the next safe step.
If you think someone is in immediate danger, or there's a medical emergency, call 000.
If there's an immediate threat to life, serious self-harm, violence, overdose, or a medical emergency, call 000 now.
Keep it simple: “I've noticed you don't seem yourself. I'm here with you. What's been going on?”
If you're worried about someone's safety and can't reach them, you can request a welfare check. In many parts of Australia, calling 131 444 connects you to local police.
Signs someone might need urgent help
Trust your instincts. You don't need to be 100% certain to check in or ask for help.
- Talking about wanting to die or hurt themselves
- Saying they feel hopeless, trapped, or like a burden
- Sudden goodbye messages, giving away belongings
- Severe intoxication, overdose, or dangerous behaviour
- Withdrawing from friends, family, work, or study
- Big changes in sleep, appetite, mood, or self-care
- Increased substance use
- Not turning up to important commitments
Welfare checks (Australia)
A welfare check is when police attend to check on someone's safety. It can be appropriate if you're seriously worried about someone and can't reach them.
- They've made threats of self-harm, or you believe they may act on them
- They're missing unexpectedly or not responding in a way that's unusual
- You have credible information they may be unsafe at home
- Full name, address, and last known location
- Any immediate risks (weapons, threats, medical conditions)
- What you observed and when you last had contact
- Your relationship to the person and contact details
The Australian Federal Police notes that the Police Assistance Line (131 444) can be used in non-urgent situations to connect you to local police. See: https://www.afp.gov.au/contact.
State & territory contacts
Processes are broadly similar across Australia: call 000 for emergencies; otherwise call 131 444 or your local police station. Links below go to official contact/station-finder pages where available.
If you're not sure what to do next, the crisis services page lists 24/7 options (call, text, chat).
Go to crisis services