"Coaching" for North East residents to deal with stress is now just a phone call or web-form away.
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NewAccess, a free and confidential mental health program developed by Beyond Blue and delivered by Wellways, was expanded to Alpine, Wangaratta, Indigo, Towong and Wodonga.
The program is designed to support people 16 years and over who may be feeling stressed or overwhelmed about general challenges in their life.
Participants are paired with a local coach who will provide practical tools over six weeks.
Beyond Blue chief executive Georgie Harman, who attended the launch in Beechworth with Wellways, said the program had helped seven out of 10 people feel better.
"It was a model that was originally developed by Beyond Blue and we now work in partnership with amazing service providers like Wellways," she said.
"It's completely free, you don't need a doctor's referral - you can just pick up the phone, get assessed, and then you get six sessions of very evidence-based treatments by coaches."
Wellways chief executive Laura Collister said coaches were already working from the Wodonga office, after funding was given from the Victorian government for the expansion.
"They're the sort of people that local community members feel very comfortable to talk to," she said.
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"It's a really important community building intervention as well."
The program can be accessed via phone, video call or face to face.
