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Bereavement, missing persons and suicide

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Quick facts

Quick Facts

This factsheet provides resources where you can access information, referrals and crisis support for bereavement, missing persons and suicide.

  • Australia-wide information and referrals

    Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement

    The ACGB can refer people to bereavement services in their area. The ACGB also offers quality education and training opportunities for health professionals, students, volunteers and any individual or agency desiring to enhance grief and bereavement knowledge and practice.

    1800 642 066

    SANE Help Centre

    National Freecall and online service providing information, guidance, and referral on mental illness and related issues.

    1800 187 263

    National Missing Persons Coordination Centre

    The National Missing Persons Coordination Centre operates Monday to Friday, 9.00 am to 5.00 pm, providing information, advice and support about missing persons and how to organise the search for someone who is missing.

    1800 000 634

    Standby Response Service

    A community-based suicide postvention program that provides a coordinated response of support and assistance for people who have been bereaved through suicide.

  • Suicide

    Suicide Call-Back Service

    National suicide call-back service can provide six 50-minute telephone counselling sessions for people who are suicidal, their carers, or those bereaved by suicide. Operates 24 hours, seven days a week.

    1300 659 467

    Lifeline Australia

    National 24 hour counselling service. Lifeline also operates a suicide helpline and callers can be referred through to this specialist telephone line.

    13 11 14

    Standby Response Service

    A community-based suicide postvention program that provides a coordinated response of support and assistance for people who have been bereaved through suicide.

Last updated: 30 October 2023

Ways we can support you

Choose from a range of FREE complex mental health supports, including counselling, peer support, online groups and events, 24/7 community forums, and online information and resources.

Please note: We're working on improvements to our Support Line! We're making system enhancements, recruiting and training more counsellors and preparing for the relaunch of webchat. During this time, there will be reduced capacity on the Support Line, and we are anticipating longer than expected wait-times for callers to connect with a counsellor. We appreciate your patience and understanding while we work to improve capacity and accessibility. If you would like to provide feedback about this change, you can do so here.

Support Line

Available Monday to Friday, 10am - 8pm (AEDT/AEST). SANE’s team of trained staff and volunteers provide free counselling, information and resources. Call 1800 187 263.
Free Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) 131 450.

Community Forums

Available 24/7. Connect with people who understand what you are going through, seek advice and surround yourself with support. They're safe and anonymous.

RecoveryClub

Available Monday to Friday, 12-8pm (AEDT/AEST). A 6-month online program for people wanting to navigate their mental health recovery at their own pace. Access evidence-based recovery resources and online groups to help you manage your mental health and work towards your recovery goals.

Guided Recovery

Available Monday to Friday, 10am to 8pm (AEDT/AEST). A 15-week program for people wanting individual guidance and support with their mental health recovery. Includes 6 appointments with a dedicated counsellor or peer support worker and access to online groups.

Peer Group Chat

Thursday and Sunday evenings. Live chat-based discussions, guided by SANE community builders. New topics each week.

Mental Health Recovery Webinars

Last Wednesday of every month, 7-8pm (AEDT/AEST). Monthly community webinars with new topics and guests, including lived experience advocates and subject matter experts. 

Information and Resources

Available 24/7. Access information you can trust on complex mental health issues. SANE factsheets and guides are easy to read and can help you understand what’s happening and what strategies can be helpful.

Guidance for supporting someone at risk of suicide

Available 24/7. A resource that provides information and advice about supporting someone who has attempted, or is at risk of attempting, suicide.

Have questions? Click here to read our FAQs or email us at getsupport@sane.org

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