Our featured service for November is the OCD and Anxiety Helpline, a phone support, information and referral resources for people with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and/or anxiety disorders and their support people.
About the OCD and Anxiety Helpline
The OCD and Anxiety Helpline is a telephone service from The Anxiety Recovery Centre Victoria (ARCVic), providing support, information, and referral for people with OCD and/or anxiety disorders, their families and support people.
The helpline is staffed by trained volunteers, who receive on-going support and supervision by the Helpline Coordinator and other ARCVic staff. These volunteers assist callers to;
- Understand and manage symptoms and anxiety disorders and depression
- Identify problems and barriers to recovery
- More effectively deal with the impact of their disorder on family and relationships
- Develop self-management skills
The helpline also provides appropriate and accurate information about anxiety disorders and evidence-based treatment interventions, and referral to professional, community and health services.
Who is the OCD and Anxiety Helpline for?
The OCD and Anxiety Helpline is designed to support individuals experiencing symptoms of OCD, anxiety disorders and/or depression. The staff also have knowledge and resources on panic, hoarding, trichotillomania and dermotillomania. The helpline also supports the family, carers and mental health care providers of people with OCD and/or anxiety.
How Health Practitioners can use the OCD and Anxiety Helpline
Health professionals can use the OCD and Anxiety Helpline as an additional support for clients who may benefit from guided information, reassurance, or symptom-management strategies between appointments. The helpline can reinforce key messages from therapy, provide psychoeducation, and offer practical suggestions for managing OCD and anxiety-related challenges. It can also support family members or carers seeking clearer understanding.
How to access the OCD and Anxiety Helpline
The OCD and Anxiety Helpline is available Monday to Friday, between 10am and 7pm by calling 1300 269 438 or 03 9830 0533.
Users can also contact the OCD and Anxiety Helpline program through their online chat at https://arcvic.org.au/our-services/helpline/.
The impact of the OCD and Anxiety Helpline
It is estimated that the OCD and Anxiety Helpline reaches around 15,000 people a year, with the complexity of helpline calls increasing due to crisis and lack of specialist supports and treatments.1
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