Safe Spaces open across North Brisbane and Moreton Bay

New Safe Spaces to support people experiencing emotional distress or suicidal thoughts have opened in the North Brisbane and Moreton Bay region.

Three Brisbane North Safe Spaces are now open in Bardon, Strathpine and Caboolture, with a fourth Safe Space in Redcliffe to open later in 2022.

Brisbane North PHN partnered with Roses in the Ocean to co-design each of the four Safe Spaces, to incorporate the voices and perspectives of those who experience emotional distress and suicidal crisis, people who care for them, health professionals and other relevant community representatives.

The Safe Spaces model is peer led and provides an alternative to hospital emergency departments for those who experience emotional distress and suicidal crisis.

Each Safe Space is also connected into a broader Safe Space Network coordinated by Wesley Mission Qld. The Brisbane North Safe Space Network has been established to create a community-based movement to embed more options for safety and enhanced wellbeing across the region.

Those experiencing emotional distress, as well as carers or support persons will be greeted by friendly peer workers who will help them settle in, offer refreshments, and will be available to discuss available supports. A peer worker is someone who understands from their own lived experience of emotional distress.

Peer workers can offer guests support with:

• problem solving
• safety planning
• connecting with other services that may be able to help
• guided sensory and calming activities to help self-manage emotionality
• accessing phone and online supports

The aim is for guests to leave Safe Spaces with a sense of hope and positivity, feeling they have been heard and supported. When it is time to leave, peer workers can provide support with transport, referrals, phone numbers and resources. A follow up phone call to check the guest’s wellbeing is offered 24 and 72 hours after their visit.

SAFE SPACES

Bardon Safe Space (operated by Communify)
180 Jubilee Tce
Bardon
T: 07 3004 0101

Caboolture Safe Space (operated by Stride)
24 George St
Caboolture
T: 07 5232 1590

Strathpine Safe Space (operated by NEAMI)
Unit 6/327 Gympie Rd
Strathpine
T: 07 3493 6710

Redcliffe Safe Space (operated by Redcliffe Area Youth Space)
Opening soon in 2022

OPENING HOURS
Open from 5.00 pm – 9.00 pm Monday to Friday.

All four Safe Spaces will participate in a coordinated calendar of opening hours over the weekends.

For service accessibility and further information about how to connect to the Safe Space network visit the My Mental health website.