Support For Young People

If you’re between the ages of 12-25 and want to make some changes to your alcohol or drug use, we can help.

Our services are free and confidential. A Medicare card is not required.

What you can do right now

Reach out to our friendly team either by phone or our online contact form. Otherwise, you can ask your school or doctor, or other people you might be getting support from, to make a referral with you.

If you’re over 14, we won’t need to talk to your parents or anyone else unless you want us to.

Once you’ve made contact, we’ll arrange a time to chat about how we can help.

What’s it like to come to SDECC?

We have comfortable rooms to chat in with couches, snacks, hot chocolate or coffee. The first time you come in we might chat about things like:

It’s up to you what you want to share and what you don’t.

Elevate Group Program for Young People

In addition to our individual counselling services, SDECC offers a three-week group program called Elevate, which we run in partnership with schools and youth services.

For professionals interested in learning more about how to access or host the Elevate Group, click here.

Online Learning

SDECC is happy to share our first online course:

Effective Conversations About Substance Use.

In this course, parents and guardians can develop conversation skills in an interactive module.

What young people say

We have permission from our clients to share a few of their comments about SDECC’s services.

FAQ

These are some of things that people struggling with alcohol or drug use find or feel. If you answer yes to any of these, you could probably benefit from support.

We have permission from our clients to share a few of their comments about sdecc’s services.

“Friendly and helpful.”

“Awesome!”

“I tell my friends they should go.”

“sdecc helped me through some really tough times.”

“sdecc is a warm and safe place.”

Yes! sdecc takes the confidentiality of our clients very seriously, and we know privacy is something you’re worried about, too. We will not share your information or anything you’ve said to us with family members or other professionals without your permission, unless we believe you are or someone else is at significant risk of harm.

Nothing. We provide all our services for free. You don’t even need a Medicare card.

No, not unless you want us to. Provided you’re 14 or over, it’s up to you. SDECC is a place for you to talk about whatever you want. We might support your parents separately with how the situation may be affecting them, but we won’t tell them what you say.

No, we won’t tell you that you need to do anything. Everyone is different. It’s about working out what is best for you. You set your own goals, we just help you to think them through.

Information & Resources

Learn more about alcohol and drug use.
SDECC Information and Resoruces

Need help right now?

SDECC operates during business hours, and we may not always be able to respond immediately.

If you’re in distress right now, for 24/7 crisis support please contact:

Emergency Services000

Lifeline13 11 14

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