Suicide Prevention Support
Suicide is a complex social issue and typically, there are many factors at play rather than a single isolated cause. Communities in which people feel safe, healthy, economically secure and connected to others are associated with higher levels of wellbeing. Individuals and communities have an active role to play in creating and maintaining wellbeing to protect themselves, and others from experiencing suicidal thoughts or distress.
Suicide, suicide attempts, or suicidal distress will impact most Australians at some point in their lives. In Australia, suicide is the leading cause of death for people between the ages of 15 and 44 years and over 3,000 people in Australia die by suicide each year – nearly 9 people a day. 1 in 6 (3.3 million) Australians aged 16 to 85 had experienced serious thoughts about taking their own life at some point in their lives and exposure to suicide in Australia is common, with 58% of the population reporting they know someone who has died by suicide.
Suicidal distress is a human response to overwhelming suffering and support for people living with thoughts of suicide, caring for loved ones, or who have been exposed to a death by suicide encompasses a wide range of activities. Suicide prevention services can provide support and resources to help a person create a life they consider worth living. Suicide aftercare supports are specialised for people who have survived suicide attempts, and support after suicide loss (‘postvention’) is for a person, family, or community with feelings of loss, grief and other experiences related to a death by suicide who are seeking help to cope.
If you or someone you care about needs support, you are not alone. There is hope. There is help.
Please use the buttons below to look through some support options that may suit your needs, including an option for training which helps everyday people have greater confidence to support people at risk who are thinking about suicide by responding compassionately to early signs of distress.
Featured Suicide Prevention Services
Safe Haven
Safe Haven is a service that provides a safe alternative to the emergency department for individuals experiencing suicidal thoughts or distress. Safe Haven, together with Head to Health, provide a community driven space for people seeking immediate mental health support to receive compassionate and responsive assistance in a place where people can sit, talk, and reflect. No appointment or referral is required.
Safe Haven is located within the Penrith Head to Health Centre, 111 Henry St, Penrith. The centre is open seven days a week, 1:00pm - 9:30pm Monday, Wednesday - Sunday (including public holidays), and 1:00pm - 5:00pm Tuesday.
Peer CARE Companion Warmline
Roses in the Ocean’s suicide prevention call-back service provides a safe place for people with a lived experience of suicide to connect with others with a similar lived experience for a chat, in a shared space of compassion, understanding and respect. Call 1800 777 337 and leave a message, and a Peer CARE Companion will connect with you within 48 hours. For more information visit the Warmline website.
Featured Carer Support
Carer Support Program - Suicide Prevention
Grand Pacific Health’s Suicide Prevention Carer Support Program is a free program which provides connection, support and information for family members and friends with a loved one at risk of suicide in the Nepean Blue Mountains.
Groups are co-facilitated by lived experience peer workers and a family clinician offering you three group sessions (2 hours each) over 5 weeks with optional individual telehealth sessions available in-between and two support calls after the groups finish.
If you have any questions, or you would like to register your interest in a group please call 1800 431 166 or email carerprogram@gph.org.au
Featured Support After Suicide Loss ‘Postvention’ Services
StandBy Support After Suicide - Support for People Bereaved by Suicide
StandBy is Australia’s leading suicide postvention program dedicated to assisting people and communities with feelings of loss, grief and other experiences related to a death by suicide and other people who are impacted by suicide such as witnesses and first responders. For telephone support or to arrange face to face support, contact Standby on 1300 727 247 between 6:00am and 10:00pm, 7 days a week. StandBy also offer resources for responding to a suicide in your community.
Thirrili - Support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People
Thirrili Ltd is a not-for-profit organisation that aims to contribute to the broader social wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people by offering emotional and practical support to families impacted by loss from suicide or other fatal traumatic incidents. Call the 24/7 Thirrili telephone line on 1800 805 801 to speak with a Postvention Advocate and access culturally appropriate bereavement support services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Visit Thirrilli for more information.
