How talking helps – and how PeerChat makes it easier
When life feels heavy, it can be hard to find the right words – or the right person – to talk to. Maybe it’s stress about study or work, tension with friends or family, or a relationship that’s left you feeling lost. Maybe you’re struggling with your mental health, or just feeling lonely and unsure where to start. Keeping it all bottled up can often make things feel even heavier.
That’s where PeerChat comes in. It’s a free, anonymous text chat where you can talk about anything that’s worrying you, big or small. Whether you’re dealing with anxiety, a breakup, or just need to clear your head, you’ll be chatting one-on-one with a trained peer worker who understands what it’s like to face tough moments and can help you work through them.
Start a free, text-based PeerChat session now – if we’re online, you’ll be connected very quickly. No account needed.
PeerChat is open Monday to Thursday 3–8 pm and Friday 11:30 am–4:30 pm Sydney time. It’s a free peer work service for 16–25 year-olds in Australia.
Why it can be hard to open up
Talking about what’s going on sounds simple, but it rarely feels that way. Sometimes you worry about being judged or dismissed. Other times, even when people say 'talk to a friend or family member,' it’s just not that easy. You might not have the kind of relationships where that feels safe or helpful.
You might tell yourself, 'It’s not that bad' or 'I should be able to handle this on my own.' Those thoughts are common, but they can keep you stuck and make things feel heavier over time. Opening up isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s a step toward feeling less alone in what you’re dealing with.
Why talking helps
When you put your thoughts into words, something shifts. What felt tangled in your head starts to make more sense. Talking helps you notice what’s really sitting underneath the surface – whether that’s stress, sadness, confusion, or something else entirely.
It’s not about having all the answers. Sometimes just saying things out loud (or typing them) is enough to take the edge off what you’re feeling. It helps you process emotions, see things from another angle, and realise you don’t have to face it all alone.
Even a single conversation can make things feel a little lighter, especially when you’re talking to someone who knows how it feels to be stuck in a tricky situation.
When to try talking to a peer worker
There are lots of ways to get support when you’re stressed, but figuring out what’s out there can be a hurdle in itself. Some people talk to a counsellor or therapist for regular sessions. Others might see a GP for a mental health plan or a psychologist for ongoing help. And when things feel really serious, a psychiatrist can offer treatment and medication options.
But not everyone is ready for that level of formality, commitment or cost – and that’s completely okay. That’s where PeerChat comes in. It’s a simple, free and confidential text-based chat with a trained peer worker – someone close to your age who’s faced their own mental health challenges and knows what it’s like to feel unsure about things.
PeerChat is a low-pressure way to start talking. It can help you figure out what’s going on, talk stuff through, and even point you towards other kinds of support if you want to take the next step later.
Free 1:1 chat
Anonymous online support
Need to talk? Try PeerChat, a safe and secure space to talk to a trained peer worker about what’s going on for you.
How PeerChat makes it easier to talk
Starting a conversation about your mental health or personal problems can feel like the hardest part. PeerChat makes that step simpler by removing the things that usually get in the way – cost, time, and fear of judgment.
You don’t need an appointment or referral. It’s free, flexible and fully confidential, so you can start chatting whenever you’re ready. Most people find it easier to express themselves over text. It gives you space to think and put things into words at your own pace.
The peer workers you’ll connect with aren’t clinicians or counsellors – they’ve faced their own challenges and are trained to support others safely. They listen and ask questions that help you untangle what’s going on. There’s no video call, just a private text chat between you and your peer worker.
Starting a text-based, on-demand PeerChat session is easy. Give it a go today.
What a PeerChat session is like
It’s normal to feel nervous before opening up to someone new, even over text. That’s why PeerChat is designed to feel calm and private, with no obligations whatsoever.
When you start a session, you’ll be connected one-on-one with a trained peer worker. They’re real people, not bots, and the chat is fully confidential. You can talk about whatever’s on your mind, from small worries to big issues, and you decide what to share.
Each session runs for up to 45 minutes, but you can take your time, pause, or finish early if you like. You don’t need to prepare anything or know exactly what to say. Your peer worker will guide the conversation gently, ask questions that help you find clarity, and offer ways to manage what you’re feeling.
PeerChat runs Monday to Thursday 3–8 pm and Fridays 11:30 am–4:30 pm Sydney time, and you’ll usually be connected to a peer worker straight away.
79.8% of people said they feel better after a PeerChat session. You could, too – start a free, anonymous chat when you’re ready.
The power of peer support
Sometimes what helps most isn’t advice or a diagnosis, it’s being understood. That’s what makes peer support different. Peer workers use their own lived experience to connect with you on a human level, not a clinical one. They’ve been through their own struggles with things like relationships, mental health, study pressure, or identity, and know how hard it can be to open up.
When someone truly gets where you’re coming from, you don’t have to explain everything or worry about being judged. You can just talk freely and focus on what you need in the moment.
Things you might want to talk about
There’s no rule for what’s 'big enough' to bring to PeerChat. You can talk about anything that’s weighing on you – whether it’s something heavy or just something that won’t stop looping in your head.
People use PeerChat to talk about all kinds of things, like:
feeling low, anxious or unmotivated
struggling with friends, family or partners
coping with breakups or confusing relationship dynamics
managing study, work or money stress
exploring questions around gender, sexuality or identity
feeling lonely or unsure where you fit.
You don’t need a clear reason to start a chat. Your peer worker can help you talk things through, make sense of what’s been going on, and find small ways forward.
Whatever’s on your mind, you can talk about it in a free PeerChat session.
You’re not alone in this
Whatever’s been weighing on you — stress, loneliness, or something you can’t quite name — you don’t have to keep it bottled up. Talking helps lighten the load, and a peer worker is here whenever you’re ready.
Connection changes things. Sometimes just putting your thoughts into words can make them feel more manageable. And when you’re talking to someone who gets it, you start to realise you don’t have to face everything on your own.
85.6% of people who’ve tried PeerChat say they’d recommend it to a friend, because having someone to listen really does help.
You don’t have to go through it alone. Start your free 45-minute PeerChat session now – a peer worker is ready to listen.
PeerChat is a free, text-based service for 16–25 year-olds in Australia. Available Monday–Thursday 3–8 pm and Friday 11:30 am–4:30 pm Sydney time.