Children and young people living in Western Sydney and the Mid-North Coast engaging in serious self-harming behaviour or having ongoing thoughts of suicide can now access practical, non-clinical support in their communities to help their recovery.
Minister for Mental Health Bronnie Taylor said the newly opened Blacktown and Coffs Harbour-based services are part of an innovative trial of child and youth-specific Aftercare services by the NSW and Commonwealth Governments.
“Coming out of acute care can be really overwhelming, so it is critical to connect these vulnerable young people with the right support outside of the hospital setting so they can reconnect and reengage with their family, friends and community,” Mrs Taylor said.
“This bold and innovative approach is all about keeping more children and young people safe by providing practical, caring support to help them re-discover hope for their future.”
“We know that what works for adults doesn’t necessarily work for younger people, which is why this service has been co-designed by young people who’ve been in their shoes and understand how frightening life can be after a suicide attempt.”
Aftercare is a non-clinical service provided in the immediate months after someone has attempted suicide or engaged in serious self-harming practices. As a model of care, this type of support has been highly effective for adults.
The service focuses on providing psychosocial support that responds to individual needs. This includes one-on-one and group activities that will help a person thrive in their day-to-day life.
This could include developing coping skills, strengthening relationships with family and friends, identifying education or work opportunities, managing addiction, or finding secure housing.
The new youth-specific services, led by New Horizons, have been co-designed with young people with lived experience of suicide, subject matter experts, and a consortium of support agencies. Further trial sites will open in Tamworth and South West Sydney later this year.
New Horizons employs Children and Young People Champions – people with lived experience of suicide whose role is to create an empathetic and safe environment for anyone seeking support.
