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There can be limited options for people seeking face-to-face support when experiencing emotional distress or suicidal thoughts, in an environment they feel safe and comfortable. The reasons are varied, but often include access or affordability, isolation when living away from home for study, homelessness, not feeling comfortable to talk to family or friends, or they might just not know where to start to seek help.
CHN, ACT’s PHN and ACT Health partnered and collaborated on the funding and commissioning of the ACT Safe Haven service which was opened in Belconnen in November 2021 by Stride Mental Health. Safe Haven is a free, walk-in, non-clinical, safe place. It was designed to be a comfortable space for people seeking connection and support, if they are experiencing emotional distress, mental health concerns, isolation and loneliness. Safe Haven assists people in their journey of recovery by offering support and opportunities in a supportive environment to address challenges, and develop skills and resources, to help them navigate their distress and promote successful community living. The team is comprised of peer workers, and people with a lived experience of mental health issues, who are appropriately trained to support guests of Safe Haven.
The Safe Haven team is diverse in experience and background, including their peer experience. The service has male, female and non-binary workers who come from many different walks of life and have a range of lived experience backgrounds, providing various perspectives for all the guests.
Safe Haven received 1,165 visits, averaging at around 22 visits per week, in the last year. On average, people who accessed the service reported a 25% decrease in their level of distress by the time they departed the service. This is a 6% improvement on the previous years reported reduction level.
Client Story
A guest began presenting to Safe Haven semi-regularly, explaining they struggled to be understood by most health professionals and were seeking a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. They were aiming to decrease the frequency of members of the public calling for welfare checks on them, due to having ‘meltdowns’ in public. In the past, this had led to escalation and instances of reported police brutality. Safe Haven supported this guest to work on their emotional regulation skills and preventative strategies of self-care. This guest was able to access and build relationships with a Psychiatrist and join a Dialectical Behaviour Therapy group to further their skills. Safe Haven supported this guest through a period of homelessness.
This guest has recently expressed gratitude to Safe Haven staff, explaining they now feel they can manage their distress in ways they had thought were not possible for them. They are now living independently, have reconnected with family, are employed and about to engage in further education. They have expressed optimism about their future.