NSW First Non-Clinical Suicide Prevention and Recovery Centre to be trialed in Sydney
Posted 4th April 2019
Life in Mind welcomes the announcement of the Commonwealth Government providing $1.25 million through the Federal Budget, to Independent Community Living Australia (ICLA) to develop and trial a new service to support and care for people experiencing a suicide-related crisis in a homelike environment.
Every year around 3,000 Australians take their own lives and sadly, these numbers are not declining. It is clear that new models of suicide prevention are desperately needed.
Launching in late 2019, Independent Community Living Australia (ICLA) is proud to be trialing NSW’s first non-clinical Suicide Prevention and Recovery Centre (SPARC) at a location within Sydney still to be decided.
Partnering with ICLA, Roses in the Ocean will lead the co-design of the operational model and provide training to Peer Workers who will provide the 24-7 empathetic care and support delivered through SPARC.
Traditionally, people surviving a suicide attempt or experiencing suicidal thinking may end up in a hospital emergency department or psychiatric facility, and for many, this situation does not address the complex clinical and social care required for recovery.
Research from overseas has shown that non-clinical residential models of care can be highly successful for giving people the tools and support needed.
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Providing people with safe, supportive places to be when they are experiencing suicidal crisis is absolutely critical. Many people in our communities tell us every day that they simply will not present to an emergency department when in crisis – that the busy, clinical environment actually escalates their distress.
With seed investment from the Federal Government Community Health and Hospitals Programme of $1.25M SPARC will be co-designed by people with a lived experience of suicide and bereavement by suicide to ensure it meets community needs and expectations.
ICLA CEO, Rachel Green
People in crisis deserve a safe space to be valued, heard without judgement and supported by people who have had similar experiences. For families and friends with loved ones in crisis, knowing there is a special place like this to take them will provide enormous relief.
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