Peer Support
Peer workers with lived experience of suicide bereavement have joined the local StandBy teams to offer holistic, wrap around peer support for people bereaved or impacted by suicide. Peer support primarily focuses on the relationship between a person bereaved or impacted by suicide and a peer worker, where their mutual experience and understanding of losing someone to suicide allows for a deeper connection.
Peer workers:
- Offer 1:1 individual support
- Over the phone, online or in community following an initial support session from the StandBy team
- Listen and offer support that is respectful, empathetic, non-judgemental and compassionate
- Use their shared experience to support a person’s growth through their own grief journey
- Develop peer support plans in collaboration with the person supported
Peer support is underpinned by the following core values:
- Mutuality
- Connection
- Dignity and respect
- Empathy
- Compassionate curiosity
- Non-judgement
- Honesty and transparency
- Authenticity
- Hope
- Self-determination
Suicide Bereavement Counselling Service (SBCS)
StandBy offers a virtual Suicide Bereavement Counselling Service delivered by a team of experienced counsellors and group facilitators with specialisation in suicide bereavement.
The service is available via telephone or online telehealth (TEAMS) between 8am and 8pm Monday to Friday (AEST).
Who is eligible to seek support?
Individuals who:
- Are actively engaged with StandBy through their local StandBy team
- Are assessed by the counselling team as being likely to benefit
from suicide bereavement counselling - Reside in one of the following States or Territories: Victoria, New
South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory
Counselling offers:
- A safe and personalised environment for individuals to explore the impact of their loss with trained counsellors
- A person-centred approach, tailoring support to individuals’ unique needs
- Evidence-based strategies and psychoeducation to support
integration of the loss
To access StandBy peer support or the Suicide Bereavement Counselling Service, individuals can find out more information on how to access these services through your local StandBy site on 1300 727 247 in participating States and Territories.
Services now available in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and the Northern Territory to further support those impacted by suicide loss.