Suicide prevention services

Last updated 12 October 2023
Suicide prevention services
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Suicide prevention services

For anyone in crisis, there are several national phone lines free for people who live in Australia. These services are funded by the Australian Department of Health and Aged Care. 

Lifeline Crisis Support Line 13 11 14 

Free 24/7 phone line that offers confidential one-to-one, short-term support for people who are feeling overwhelmed or having difficulty coping, including those with thoughts of suicide. 

Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467 

Free 24/7 phone and online counselling service for those who are impacted by suicide including: 

  • Anyone who is feeling suicidal 

  • Anyone who is worried about someone 

  • Anyone who is caring for someone who is feeling suicidal 

  • Anyone who has lost someone to suicide 

  • Health professionals supporting people who are affected by suicide. 

Standby Support After Suicide 1300 727 247 

Standby phoneline support is available 24/7 and for those who have been bereaved or impacted by suicide during any time of their life.  

Beyond Blue Support Service 1300 22 4636 

Free phone and online counselling service that is open 24/7 for anyone in Australia who is: 

  • Having a really bad day 

  • Feeling overwhelmed and don't know where to start  

  • Needs help to support a partner, family member or friend. 

13 YARN (13 92 76) 

Crisis support phone service for First Nations persons to yarn with an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporter. The service is free and available 24/7 providing a confidential, culturally safe space to yarn about needs, worries or concerns. 

Thirrili After Suicide Support 1800 805 801  

A 24 hour, 7 days a week Indigenous postvention advocate service working with local Elders, community and Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander organisations to ensure a community response is put in place to support bereaved individuals and families. Support is provided over the phone with travel to community available if required. 

Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 

Kids Helpline is a free 24/7 phone counselling service for young people aged 5-25 that offers practical help and emotional support at critical moments when a young person needs someone to listen. 

QLife 1800 184 527 

QLife provides Australia-wide anonymous, LGBTIQ+ peer support and referral for people wanting to talk about a range of issues including sexuality, identity, gender, bodies, feelings or relationships. The phone service is free and is delivered by trained LGBTIQ+ community members.  

Open Arms Veterans & Families Counselling  1800 011 046 

Open Arms provides free and confidential counselling to anyone who has served at least one day in the ADF, their partners and families 24/7. This includes: 

  • current serving Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force personnel 

  • ADF personnel transitioning to civilian life 

  • ex-serving members 

  • partners and children of serving and ex-serving personnel 

  • ex-partners who are co-parenting 

  • reservists with one day continuous full time service or hazardous service. 

Mens Line 1300 78 99 78 

MensLine Australia is a free telephone and online counselling service offering support for Australian men anywhere, anytime. 

Brisbane south-specific suicide prevention networks

Commissioned services

The role of Primary Health Networks is to identify community needs relating to suicide prevention and provide funding to services that can help to address priorities. At Brisbane South PHN, there are several services that are funded to target and reduce known risk factors associated with suicide. 

These programs are funded by the Australian Department of Health and Aged Care & Queensland Government Mental Health and Alcohol & Other Drug Branch. 

Suicide prevention services

Nexus Program 

Provider organisation: QPASTT

The NEXUS Program supports young people from refugee backgrounds aged 12 to 24 years  

at risk of suicide. Support is delivered through 2 components.

1. Prevention, early intervention and crisis management activities:  

  • Individual Counselling - School Outreach: One on One Support and Group Activities (formal and informal). 

  • Child / Youth Program: School Holiday Activities. 

2. Strengthening School Capacity:  

  • Assisting schools to understand and meet the needs of students from refugee backgrounds. 

  • Responding to the realities of the refugee experience with appropriate and targeted programs to better assist with learning and settlement. 

  • Engaging the broader school community in helping to educate and integrate refugee background students. 

The Nexus Program is delivered in various schools across the Brisbane City Council and Logan City Council regions. 

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Youth Multicultural Mentoring Program   

Provider organisation: Mana Pasifika 

School mentoring program is provided within schools, in the Brisbane and Logan region, for young Pasifika students aged between 8-18years old using holistic and culturally responsive models and frameworks.

Mentoring sessions with a Cultural Youth Worker is delivered over a schooling term.  

Social media is also used to promote positive wellbeing and mental health, including where Maori and Pasifika students can access culturally appropriate services in their region. 

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Gift of Gallang and Seventy7 Program 

Organisation: Inala Wangarra

The Gift of Gallang program is school based and delivered to First Nation students in grade 4 to 6. The program is delivered over a schooling term and aims to increase and strengthen students resilience, emotional control & pride, and connection to culture. A social and emotional wellbeing framework is used within the program. 

Seventy7 is a place-based program operating on a Friday and Saturday night at Inala Wangarra, where youth can engage in group activities including sport, artwork, arcade games or yarning circles. The area is a safe space where youth can engage with Inala Wangarra Youth Support Workers. 

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Early intervention services

Alternatives to Suicide Individual and Group Support Program

Provider organisation: Brook Red

The Alternatives to Suicide program (Alt2su) is a peer led, lived experience, non-clinical and confidential program where people can talk about, sit with and make sense of suicidal experiences, thoughts and distress in a safe space.

The program is an evidence-informed model from the United States that fosters strength in collective wisdom and makes space for the sharing of experiences. Individual peer support sessions are also available alongside the group sessions or can be accessed without needing to attend a group session.

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After care services

The Way Back Support Service

Organisation: Wesley Mission Queensland

The Way Back Support Service aims to support those who have attempted suicide or had a suicidal crisis, to minimise the risk of re-attempts. The service aims to increase social connectedness, improve access to clinical and community support services, and build the capacity of individuals to self-manage and improve mental wellbeing. People are referred into the service when presenting to a hospital emergency department and are identified as being at risk of suicidal thoughts.

Currently the service is delivered at the Brisbane Princess Alexandra Hospital, with work commencing to introduce the service within the Logan Hospital and Redlands Hospital.

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