To make accessing evidence-based information easier for the public, the Matilda Centre has collated a series of resources across mental health and substance use. These resources help to ensure that everyone has free access to the latest, evidence-based, best practice information and advice.
We have developed an open-access series of webinars, videos and animations to increase awareness about mental health and substance use.
Explore our resources and subscribe to the Matilda Centre’s YouTube page to get notified for new videos.
The Alcohol and Depression Decision Aid for Psychological Treatments (ADDAPT) is a decision aid to help people decide which treatment approach is best for them.
ADDAPT is designed for people seeking professional help for their co-occurring depression and risky alcohol use.
These booklets help people to decide which treatment approach is best for them:
Cracks in the Ice is an online toolkit providing evidence-based and up-to-date information and resources about crystal methamphetamine (ice) for the Australian community. Cracks in the Ice has dedicated resources for people who use ice, their families, and health workers.
The toolkit includes:
Culturally appropriate information and resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples include videos, brochures, and resources in language.
The Family and Friends Support Program are a set of online wellbeing and resilience interventions designed by experts, in collaboration with people who have lived experience, to help families and friends supporting a loved one who may be using ice, alcohol and/or other drugs.
The Booklets on co-occurring conditions are a suite of five evidence-based information booklets developed for people who use substances and also experience symptoms of co-occurring mental disorders. They are available for free download:
The Learning with FASD portal provides resources for primary and secondary school educators helping young people manage Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).
These resources include evidence-backed information about how FASD affects a person’s brain across development, best practice support measures, and guides for collaborating between parents and schools to help young people thrive.
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See the full resources at Learning with FASD.
Positive Choices is an online portal to help school communities access trusted, evidence-based drug education resources and prevention programs, with dedicated resources for culturally and linguistically diverse peoples, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
These resources provide the latest information and best-practice guidance on preventing alcohol and other drug-related harms in young people, including:
See the full suite of resources at Positive Choices.
The Respect Your Brain animated video series explores how alcohol and other drugs (e.g. cannabis, MDMA, alcohol with antidepressants, and vaping) affect the developing brain.
These resources were funded by NSW Health and developed for young people by the Matilda Centre. A 2024 evaluation found the resources were rated as highly engaging and resulted in increased understanding of drug and alcohol harms in youth.
See the full suite of resources at Your Room – NSW Health.
After research from the Matilda Centre found that it is difficult to tell the difference between social media posts that are evidence-based or not, researchers at the Matilda Centre have developed guidelines for communicating research on social media.
Originally designed for X, the information is applicable across all social media channels to ensure communications are clear, effective, and evidence-based.
Published in 2014 and funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, this series of factsheets provide evidence-based information for the public about drugs and their effects. These resources are currently being reviewed to ensure evidence is up-to-date.
Alcohol is considered a legal and socially acceptable substance to consume in Australia. Despite being the most commonly used drug in Australia, alcohol can still have harmful effects. Learn more about:
As one of the more legal forms of substance use, tobacco provides the administration of nicotine and can be consumed in several forms. Smoking is a significant contributor to preventable causes of death and has high rates of addiction.
Learn more about:
Depressant drugs affect the central nervous system, slowing down messages between your brain and body. These substances are known to reduce inhibition, increase impulsive actions and are often used for stress reduction. They include:
Stimulants are a group of substances that accelerate messages travelling between the brain and body, and are typically used for their benefits in confidence, alertness and energy.
Learn more about:
Inhalants, also known as volatile substances or solvents, are chemicals that evaporate and give off fumes at room temperature. These fumes can be inhaled through the body to give the user an immediate ‘high’. Learn more about the four main types of inhalants and their potential effects:
Psychedelics affect the way our brains process stimuli and can change how a person thinks, sees, their moods, and how they perceive the world around them. This subgroup of drugs is increasingly being researched for their effectiveness in treating some mental health conditions, such as treatment-resistant depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
This factsheet provides information about the legal system and substance use in Australia, including interactions with police, legal definitions, and the court system.
