Safe Spaces
Brisbane North PHN commissions four Safe Spaces across the North Brisbane and Moreton Bay region.
About Safe Spaces
Located in communities with high levels of need and distress at Bardon, Strathpine, Caboolture and Redcliffe, Safe Spaces operate in the after-hours period when traditional mental health services are unavailable and there is then little to no alternative to presenting to an Emergency Department (ED).
The Brisbane North Safe Spaces program is an evidence based, peer-led service with clinical wraparound support available to guests if required. Guests do not need a mental health diagnosis to access a Safe Space, nor is there any age restriction or access criteria.
In our region, Safe Spaces are a standalone service which have close referral pathways to other wraparound services like the Medicare Mental Health Centre service.
Strong attendance data and increasing demand has demonstrated Safe Spaces are filling a crucial gap in the system for people in distress, managing guests’ emotions through destressing safety plans, group interactions, sensory objects and calming activities.
Safe Spaces physical environment is also purposefully designed with comfort in mind, contrasting other clinical based model approaches and the sensory overload of presenting to ED.
Outcomes achieved
Brisbane North PHN engaged Nous Group to conduct a three-year evaluation to monitor, measure and report on outputs, outcomes, impacts and opportunities for Brisbane North PHN’s Safe Spaces program.
Through this process, Safe Space guests told us the service is saving their lives, through:
- reducing their immediate distress
- addressing their needs and root causes of distress
- equipping them with the skills to create safety and mange future distress
- suicide prevention strategy.
In the period April 2022 to September 2024, Safe Spaces:
- supported the avoidance of more than 1600 emergency department admissions, negating $16.3 million in ED and hospital related costs
- received nearly 12,000 total contacts (visits, phone calls and enquiries)
- supported 2500 individuals for a total of 10,560 physical visits
- resulted in 86 per cent of guests reporting reductions in their distress and 74 per cent agreeing their Safe Spaces experience made them more confident to manage stress and difficult situations.
Future proofing
With sustainable funding for Safe Spaces, Brisbane North PHN can continue to strengthen this innovative, recovery-oriented model addressing guests mental health distress early, before reaching moderate to severe levels of concern. Resultantly, Safe Spaces could prevent more than 895 ED presentations annually, producing a net financial benefit of $5.4 million (after accounting for operating costs).
Medicare Mental Health Centre guidelines acknowledge the unique value peer-led services like Safe Spaces bring to crisis care, encouraging referrals to peer support groups and peer-led safe spaces.
If you would like to learn more about Brisbane North PHN's successful Safe Spaces program, view the consumer brochure or contact our team.
