Building community preparedness

StandBy Support After Suicide is a community-based program dedicated to supporting people and communities across Australia bereaved or affected by suicide.

The name reflects the core purpose – the provision of support for Suicide Bereavement represented by the capital S and B in StandBy.

Established on the Sunshine Coast in 2002, StandByy and has now reached national coverage, supporting Australians in every state and territory across the Nation. StandBy has partnered with Wellways to deliver the program across western Victoria.

StandBy support individuals, families and friends, along with witnesses, First Responders and Service Providers, community groups, workplaces, in fact anyone who has been affected by suicide.

The program is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week, providing free face-to-face and/or telephone support at a time and place that is best for each individual.

It offers co-ordinated evidence-based support and resources (including connections to local services and groups) that is individualised for each person’s unique circumstances.

The support is continued for up to two years to ensure those that engage with StandBy are not alone and receive ongoing support.

StandBy builds community preparedness and resilience through extensive training to community and professional groups to ensure effectiveness and that duplicated effort is avoided.

The program is ideally placed to offer a settings-based approach, providing group support after a suicide for schools, workplaces and community groups.

The workshops on offer include but are not limited to “What do I say? What do I do?”, “Pathways to Care” and “Supporting Children and Young People in grief”.

StandBy are also in the process of developing a Postvention Response Protocol for the Geelong and Surf Coast region.

This ensures that following a death by suicide everyone that has been bereaved or affected receives the support they need.

Workshops and support services are free of charge.

For more information on how StandBy Support after Suicide can help you, a friend, workplace or community, please reach out to the Western Victoria team on 1300 727 247 or email st[email protected]

StandBy is an initiative funded by the federal government.