During the 2024/2025 holiday season, the PANDA National Helpline will be open Monday – Friday 9:00am – 7:30pm + Saturdays 9am - 4pm, except on the following days:
Wednesday 25th December 2024 (Christmas Day) CLOSED
Thursday 26th December 2024 (Boxing Day) 9:00am – 4:00pm
Wednesday 1st January 2025 (New Year’s Day) 9:00am – 4:00pm
PANDA isn't a crisis service, and we understand there may be times during this period you need support services you can access for immediate help.
Below you will find a list of services you can call on for help and support outside of PANDA's operating hours.
1
National support services
2
Parent helplines in your state
3
Mental health triage services in your state
Family violence during the holiday season
On Christmas Day there are twice as many incidents of family violence compared with any other day of the year. Any attempt to exert power and control over you can be a form of family violence.
Some families are under a lot of financial pressure over the festive season, and this can contribute to an unsafe/stressful environment. If you’re worried about yourself or a loved one, contact 1800 RESPECT for support.
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PANDA National Helpline
Find someone to talk to, Monday to Saturday.
1300 726 306
Call 000 for police and ambulance if you or someone else are in immediate danger
Talk with friends or family
Consider talking about how you are feeling with someone you trust. This might be a friend or family member. Once you starting talking you might be surprised at how many others have had similar experiences and the support they can provide you.
Talk with your doctor
Talking with your doctor can be an important step to getting the help you need. They should be able to give you non-judgemental support, assessment, diagnosis, and ongoing care and treatment. They can also refer you to specialists such as a counsellor, psychologist or psychiatrist.
Get help now
If you are having suicidal thoughts or are feeling disorientated it’s important to get help immediately. PANDA is not a crisis service, if you need immediate support call Lifeline 13 11 14 (24/7).