S.A.F.E.R. is a free of charge, time-limited counselling service offered at Mental Health and Substance Use Outpatient Services. S.A.F.E.R. provides counselling for individuals age 19 and over who have made a suicide attempt, are currently suicidal, or have suicidal ideation; also offers support and education for people who are concerned about the risk of suicide in a significant other or bereaved by a suicide death. SAFER also offers training, education, and professional consultation in the areas of suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention.
A S.A.F.E.R counsellor can help you if:
Counselling (for up to 6 months) may help you learn new ways to cope with difficult times and painful feelings. S.A.F.E.R. can help you:
Discuss ways to keep you safe
Deal with painful feelings
Talk about what has happened in your life that causes you pain
Begin to set goals and feel more hopeful
Learn how to work on and solve problems
Build on your strengths
S.A.F.E.R. offers up to three appointments with a counsellor to a person concerned about someone who is suicidal. During these sessions you can:
Learn about what to do, how to get help, and where to go for support.
Talk about your concerns
Get facts about suicide risk
Learn when to get help
Discuss ways to look after yourself
S.A.F.E.R. offers individual counselling (for up to a year) to individuals who have lost someone to suicide.
We also offer counsellor-led groups for those who are ready to work on their grief with others.
Educational workshops
Our S.A.F.E.R. counsellors offer educational workshops in Suicide Intervention and Suicide Bereavement for mental health workers and members of the Greater Vancouver community. For more information, call the Clinical Educator at 604-675-3710.