Suicide Prevention
Suicide Prevention is a priority for Adelaide PHN. We commission and coordinate activities and services that reduce barriers to timely support, build community capability to recognise and respond to suicide risk, and strengthen integration across primary care and community settings throughout the Adelaide metropolitan region. Our work focuses on early intervention, connection, and locally driven solutions that meet population health needs.
Suicide Prevention Programs
Adelaide PHN commissions and supports a range of suicide prevention programs designed to reduce distress, strengthen early intervention, and ensure people receive compassionate, connected care.
These programs reflect our responsibilities under national and state agreements and our commitment to partnering with providers, community, and lived experience to improve outcomes across the Adelaide metropolitan region.
Programs delivered under the National Bilateral Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement
A short-term, non-clinical community-based service for adults experiencing stress or distress. DBS offers up to three weeks of one-to-one focused practical support to help you stabilise, problem solve and link with the right services.
A non-clinical psychosocial support program for people who have experienced a suicidal crisis or attempt in the past three months due to psychosocial distress.
Aftercare offers one-to-one practical and personalised outreach support to help you stay connected, navigate the system and access the right supports. Aftercare includes support for family, friends, carers and kin supporting a loved one with suicidal behaviour.
Community Suicide Prevention Programs
Free after hours walk-in mental health service in Salisbury offering immediate support for people experiencing distress or crisis, delivered by Peer Practitioners with lived experience.
Adelaide PHN is currently codesigning the next suite of locally tailored community suicide prevention programs. This design work ensures future initiatives reflect the needs, strengths, and cultural contexts of communities across metropolitan Adelaide.
Updates on new community-designed programs will be added to the Announcements section as projects are confirmed.
Targeted Regional Initiatives
Since 2023, Adelaide PHN has been implementing the Targeted Regional Initiatives to Suicide Prevention (TRISP) Program – a national initiative designed to build on lessons from previous suicide prevention trials and shape locally tailored, community-led approaches.
Key Activities Under TRISP
The Men's Table is a community-building and men's mental health and suicide prevention initiative.
At each Men's Table, a group of 10-12 local men meet once a month over a cheap meal in a private room or venue to talk, listen and share their highs and lows and how they're really feeling. This Model of Care has been proven to demonstrate positive outcomes and impacts including men's mental health and suicide prevention, resilient community building and social connection, healthy masculinities and improved help seeking for men.
The Men's Table currently facilitates tables within the Adelaide PHN region in Northern, Southern and Eastern Adelaide, with expansion to Western Adelaide in late 2024.
We are supporting the establishment of three place-based Suicide Prevention Collaboratives in Northern, Southern and Central Adeliade.
These collaboratives bring together community members, lived experience voices, local services, councils, and sector partners to identify local priorities and co-design practical, community-driven suicide prevention responses using evidenced systems-based approaches.
Suicide Prevention Collaborative Backbone Organisations
- Northern Adelaide – Aspire Recovery Connect Program, Uniting Care Wesley Bowden
- Central Adelaide – Adelaide PHN
- Southern Adelaide – Adelaide PHN
A lived experience informed public awareness initiative encouraging safe conversations about suicide and increasing community confidence to reach out and support someone who may be struggling.
We are strengthening the ability of communities and frontline workers to recognise distress, respond safely, and connect people to support. This includes a strong focus on priority groups, with tailored approaches for:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people suicide prevention training
- Multicultural communities suicide prevention training with a focus on refugees, asylum seekers and international students
- LGBTQIA+ communities – Establishment of an LGBTQIA+ Lived Experience Community of Practice and development of an LGBTQIA+ Peer Work Skill Set
If you are interested in connecting with these projects, contact us at enquiry@adelaidephn.com.au
Suicide Prevention Training
We support and promote training that builds capability across community, primary care, and workplaces.
Recognise and Respond is a one-hour online self-paced course that aims to reduce and prevent suicide in Australia. It provides the tools and confidence you need to have a key conversation and respond to a friend, family member or colleague who may have suicidal thoughts.
This training is widely suitable for anyone in community including volunteers, sports coaches, hospitality staff, barbers, hairdressers and local council workers.
Use the access code 'StartTheChat' when registering for the training.
The Connecting with People framework offers a set of structured, evidence-informed trainings tailored for health professionals, community workers, and people in helping roles.
Adelaide PHN coordinates access to four modules that build core competency in suicide awareness, safety planning, and suicide response.
Suicide Awareness for Professionals – e-Learning
A one-hour e-Learning module designed for professionals. It focuses on suicide awareness including understanding risk and recognising distress, using compassionate communication and responding safely.
Introductory training for clinicians and frontline workers that covers:
- Understanding suicide risk
- Basics of compassionate assessment
Ideal for those beginning to build confidence in recognising risk.
Weblink: https://auslms.4mentalhealth.com
Access Code: APHSA7522
Important: This e-Learning module is the prerequisite for Suicide Response 1 and 2 training.
Supporting Others to Make a Safety Plan – e-Learning
A practical 30-minute e-Learning module teaching how to collaboratively create a structured safety plan, including identifying warning signs, coping strategies, reasons for living and supports.
This module is suitable for allied health professionals and professionals working in non-mental health care roles.
Recommended for people who have completed Suicide Awareness, but who are not proceeding to the Suicide Response 1 and 2 modules.
Weblink: https://auslms.4mentalhealth.com
Access Code: APHSP1183
Suicide Response 1 and 2 – Face to Face training
Delivered together as a comprehensive seven-hour training day, Suicide Response 1 and 2 equip professionals with practical skills to support people experiencing suicidal distress.
The combined module covers a structured assessment approach, safe and compassionate engagement, documentation and care planning, and strategies for risk mitigation and deescelation.
It strengthens confidence in responding to both immediate and more complex or ongoing risk presentations, supporting consistent, person-centred decision-making across clinical and community settings.
Available for Primary Mental Health Care workforce in the Adelaide PHN region.
Access: https://adelaidephn.com.au/connecting-with-people-training
Important: Suicide Awareness for Professionals e-Learning is a mandatory prerequisite to Suicide Response 1 and 2.
Want support choosing the right training?
If you're unsure which program suits you, your organisation or workforce, our Suicide Prevention Team can help identify the best fit based on role, context, and local needs.
- Phone: (08) 8219 5900
- Email: enquiry@adelaidephn.com.au