Safe Haven Belconnen

Safe Havens provide the space for people 16+ experiencing suicidal thoughts and feelings or emotional distress to access support when they need it, in a calm and caring environment. They are a collaborative and innovative concept that works for the local community they are situated in. The space and support available have been designed in partnership with people who have been through tough times themselves and understand what does and doesn’t work.

The staff at Safe Haven are Peer Support Workers (people with a lived experience of mental health issues) and non-clinical Mental Health Support Workers. 

Safe Havens promote the wellbeing of people through assistance and support to manage their experience of distress, both current and in the future, and reduce the need for people to access emergency departments when they are feeling unsafe. 

Guests tell us that having another option for keeping safe is really important; “It is so great to have a place to come that is an alternative to ED while you can just chill and get help. It is better than ED, the wait at ED with no one to talk to is hard. In Safe Space there was no wait, [I was] given time to sit and sort my brain out with someone to talk to if needed.”