Alternatives to Suicide (Alt2Su) has established peer-to-peer online mutual support groups for any person in Australia 18 years of age or older who has made suicidal attempts to end their life or who have experienced suicidal thoughts. You don’t need a referral, and you don’t need to let us know you will be attending, you can just turn up at a group.
In practice the group provides a peer-led space for voicing, sitting with, understanding and moving through suicidal thoughts with the opportunity to talk about suicidal experiences and other forms of emotional distress without fear of someone calling emergency services and being put through a crisis management system. Alt2Su is not a crisis response service but for many knowing there is a support group to attend each week has often been enough to get people through their most difficult times.
The Alternatives to Suicide approach is about openly exploring the meaning behind thoughts and feelings of suicide, as well as what might be worth living for.
Currently three groups are run online and newcomers are always welcome. The groups are held weekly on:
Monday 6:00pm – 7:30pm Alt2Su LGBTQ+ Group, email alt2su.lgbtq@gmail.com for an access code
Tuesday 6:00pm to 7:30pm Alt2Su Open Group for Anybody, Zoom link to join: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86768571420
Wednesday 7:00pm to 8:30pm Alt2Su Women’s Group, Zoom link to join: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85405527792
Publicly available mental health information and self-help resources.
Self-help resources and low intensity interventions, including digital mental health, group and peer supports.
A mix of self-help resources, including digital mental health and low intensity interventions. Also psychological services for individuals who require them.
High intensity services including periods of intensive intervention that may involve multidisciplinary support. Where issues may be persistent or episodic without a high level of risk, complexity or disability.
Intensive team-based specialist assessment and intervention (typically state/territory mental health services) with involvement from a range of different mental health professionals including case managers, psychiatrists, allied health workers, and GPs. Includes a high level of risk, disability or complexity.