Transcript of Launch of Safe Haven South Eastern Sydney LHD
Max, Coordinator, St George Safe Haven: With a lot of people experiencing suicidal crisis they can end up presenting to ED, like emergency department, and they'll get an assessment and get sent home with like a referral to a GP and then usually in that process there isn't capacity to be able to explore their experiences. So Safe Haven is really unique in it being non-clinical, but also predominantly staffed by people not only with a specific lived experience, surviving suicidal crisis. So we have a Safe Haven clinician but other than that, my background is in peer work and our other staff have lived experience. So when people come in to see us, they're connecting with other people who understand the experience.
Text overlay: "A lot of the feedback is that Safe Haven is very different to other services."
Max: We've had pretty good results so far. I think a lot of the feedback we're getting is that it is very different to other services. Through the data on average, people are coming back three times to Safe Haven. We've had some other guests that have come back pretty consistently, multiple times, so it just depends on what they need in that situation and just hopefully with promotion, people can be aware of us before they get into a crisis and be able to have another option.
Kamara, Guest, St George Safe Haven: My name is Kamara and I have been living with a mental illness for 27 years. I have used various mental health services both in the community and inpatient. Since February, I have been attending Safe Haven St George. I have found the space to be safe, non-judgmental and welcoming. For example, when I was at Safe Haven one day, I experienced a vivid flashback where I had high anxiety and dissociating. I spoke to the staff at Safe Haven and they reassured me I was in a safe place and we made a plan. I was supposed to leave to go through another commitment, but I was not able to ensure I would be safe from myself. With support, I cancelled the commitment and stayed at Safe Haven and joined in some activities, like playing Uno and being with other guests and talking to the staff. I left feeling safe and was able to get through the night. This service has prevented me from going to emergency or mental health units for suicidal ideations. It is like no other service I have used and benefit from my visit at Safe Haven St George. Thank you.
Text overlay: Safe Haven is a NSW Health Towards Zero Suicide Initiative.
