Need help? Deakin counsellors provide free and confidential advice online
We want you to stay happy and well as you pursue your study goals at Deakin. We understand life as a student can be a tough juggling act sometimes, but please don’t ever feel like you have to handle it all on your own.
Deakin offers all students the services of a highly-qualified team of mental health experts to help you navigate any emotional and psychological issues you may be experiencing. Deakin’s Counselling and Psychological Support (CAPS) team are available for one-on-one counselling but, if you would prefer an anonymous or more immediate means of seeking professional help in the first instance, we encourage you to take a look at our Ask Counselling blog.
Why try Ask Counselling?
The Ask Counselling blog is an online Q&A resource that allows you to post questions to our counsellors, plus read existing posts and responses, so that you can easily access a range of advice to support your psychological wellbeing.
Browse advice relating to your own issues.
Ask Counselling features answers to existing student questions in handy A–Z categories so you can browse topics relating to all sorts of issues, such as exam worries, problems concentrating while studying, drug and alcohol issues, family violence, and much more. Take a look to see if a student has already received a response to a question which may be similar to your concerns.
Want a personalised answer? Ask your own question.
Post your own question on the blog and a CAPS counsellor will respond within 72 business hours with a tailored reply to your issue.
Know you’re not alone.
The topics you read about on Ask Counselling are there because another student has sought help for similar feelings you may be having now – we all experience stress, self-doubt, or loneliness sometimes.
View Recent Posts to see what’s on your fellow students’ minds, or to come back and see the response to a question you asked.
Below are some of the topics most recently raised by students:
- Feeling lonely and misunderstood by family
- Feeling depressed and crying for no reason
- Suffering from poor mental health during postgrad studies
- Feeling regret for leaving one’s home country
- Experiencing panic attacks
- Placement stress
- Loss of appetite.
See the advice our counsellors advised.
It’s confidential.
Ask Counselling is completely anonymous so no one will know what you’ve asked. We publish the questions and responses on the blog so other students can benefit from these insights, but we will never publish your name.
It’s convenient and completely free.
Take advantage of free and private access to the insights of empathetic and qualified counsellors, at a time that suits you.
Need immediate help? Contact an emergency service
Please note Ask Counselling is not a 24-hour crisis service. If you need immediate emergency help, you should contact Lifeline (13 11 14) or SuicideLine (1300 651 251) straight away. They’re available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
See the Counselling webpage for details of other specialised support services available at Deakin or in the community.
See our other health and wellbeing offerings
Have you downloaded the DeakinWELLBEING app yet? Based on the five ways to build wellbeing – connecting, being active, taking notice, keep learning and giving – the app makes it easy to find balance and develop healthy habits. It’s free to all students, no matter where you’re based.
We also host a range of articles on various health and wellbeing topics online, offering advice on areas relating to personal development, emotional and interpersonal issues, study/work/life balance, grief, sexual health and respectful relationships, culture shock, plus much more.
See the full range of helpful resources on the Health and wellbeing webpage.
Do you want to speak to someone directly?
Ask Counselling isn’t intended to replace personal counselling, so if you’re located in Australia and want to speak to a professional psychologist or social worker in greater depth, we recommend you book an appointment with a CAPS counsellor for more personalised advice.
Our team offers free and confidential support over the phone or via Zoom to all Deakin students. We also have some specialist counsellors available – see their discipline-specific details on the webpage and select the relevant cohort when you book.