About This Project
Helplines.com.au is a free, ad-free, open-source mental health resource built for Australians. It exists because we believe that financial status, privacy concerns, and internet access should never be barriers to mental health support.
Every tool on this site — from the DASS-21 and K10 screening instruments to the breathing exercises and safety plan — runs entirely within your browser. Your screening results, journal entries, and safety plan are processed and stored entirely on your device — they are never sent to any server. There are no logins or accounts required. We use Google Analytics to understand how the site is used, and may display ads to help cover the costs of running the project. All tools remain free to use.
The site is designed to work offline, so it can be used in areas with limited connectivity or saved to a phone's home screen for quick access during a difficult moment.
Clinical Tools
The screening instruments on this site are well-established, publicly available clinical tools that are widely used in Australian healthcare:
DASS-21 (Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale)
Developed by Lovibond & Lovibond (1995) at the University of New South Wales. The DASS-21 is a 21-item self-report questionnaire that measures three related negative emotional states: depression, anxiety, and stress/tension. It is one of the most widely used screening instruments in Australian clinical practice.
Reference: Lovibond, S.H. & Lovibond, P.F. (1995). Manual for the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (2nd ed.). Sydney: Psychology Foundation.
K10 (Kessler Psychological Distress Scale)
Developed by Kessler et al. (2002). The K10 is a 10-item questionnaire measuring non-specific psychological distress over the past 30 days. It is used by the Australian Bureau of Statistics in the National Health Survey and is commonly administered by GPs as part of Mental Health Treatment Plan assessments.
Reference: Kessler, R.C. et al. (2002). Short screening scales to monitor population prevalences and trends in non-specific psychological distress. Psychological Medicine, 32(6), 959-976.
Safety Plan
Based on the Stanley-Brown Safety Planning Intervention, a brief clinical intervention that has been shown to reduce suicidal behaviour. Safety planning is recommended by the Black Dog Institute, Beyond Blue, and the Australian Government's National Suicide Prevention Strategy.
Reference: Stanley, B. & Brown, G.K. (2012). Safety Planning Intervention: A Brief Intervention to Mitigate Suicide Risk. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 19(2), 256-264.
Privacy Policy
Here is our privacy policy in plain language:
Your screening results, journal entries, and safety plan never leave your device.
Specifically, this site does not use:
User accounts, logins, or registration · Selling or sharing your personal data with third parties · Server-side storage of your screening results, journal entries, or safety plan
We use Google Analytics to understand how the site is used (page views, visitor counts). Google Analytics uses cookies and processes anonymised usage data subject to Google's Privacy Policy. We may also display advertisements through Google AdSense to help fund the project, subject to Google's Advertising Policies. Neither analytics nor advertising has access to your screening results, journal entries, or safety plan — those are processed entirely in your browser and never leave your device.
All tools run client-side in your browser. The Safety Plan tool uses your browser's localStorage to save your data on your device — this data never leaves your device and can be cleared at any time via your browser settings or by using the "Clear All Data" button within the tool.
The site is hosted on Cloudflare Pages. Cloudflare may process standard HTTP connection data (IP address, request headers) as part of serving web pages, subject to Cloudflare's Privacy Policy. We do not have access to this data and do not request it.
Clinical Disclaimer
This website is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
The screening tools on this site (DASS-21, K10, Burnout Assessment) are self-report instruments designed for informational and educational purposes. They are not diagnostic tools. A score on any screening instrument does not constitute a clinical diagnosis.
If your results concern you, or if you are experiencing mental health difficulties, please consult a qualified healthcare professional such as your GP, a psychologist, or a psychiatrist. In Australia, your GP can create a Mental Health Treatment Plan that provides Medicare-subsidised access to psychology sessions.
If you are in crisis or immediate danger, please call 000 (Emergency) or Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Support This Project
Helplines.com.au is maintained independently and is committed to remaining free, ad-free, and private. If you find it helpful, there are several ways you can support the project:
Share the site with someone who might benefit · Recommend it to GPs, psychologists, or school counsellors · Link to it from your website or social media · Provide feedback on how to improve the tools · Report any errors in helpline information
☕ Buy Me a CoffeeDonations help cover hosting costs and keep this site free and ad-free for everyone.
Contact
For corrections, feedback, or enquiries about helpline listings, please email [email protected].