Suicide prevention and training services

The PHN funds many providers to deliver suicide prevention, suicide aftercare and suicide prevention training programs in our region, and we are committed to fostering collaborative partnerships with consumers and carers at each stage of the commissioning process.

For a breakdown on the programs and services funded and supported by the PHN, please follow the links below.

Suicide Prevention Programs

Dads in Distress

Dads in Distress supports dads experiencing trauma through family breakdown and separation anxiety often leading to stress, depression, isolation, and suicide. Dads in Distress uses a peer support group program to engage and support parents by listening and empathising with their life experience. The support groups use both a psychotherapeutic and a psychoeducational model that supports parents through their time of distress and builds on their resilience and confidence to face changes in their lives. Dads in Distress has been engaged by the PHN to establish local peer support groups on the Central Coast and Newcastle.

The frequency and time of the local DiDs groups can be found on their website:

The Men’s Table

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. The Men’s Tables are established upon a simple structure and are sustained through the commitment of each man to show up each month.

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 facilitate tables within the Hunter and New England, with expansion plans for these areas and the Central Coast.

To find a local table please visit their website:

Suicide Aftercare Programs

The Way Back Support Service

The Way Back Support Service (The Way Back) is a Beyond Blue initiative designed to support people who have recently experienced a suicidal crisis or attempted suicide. The Way Back provides non-clinical, practical support in the community for up to three months, following a presentation to the emergency department. Participation is voluntary and support is guided by the needs of the client.

The PHN currently funds The Way Back in two locations, Hunter and Central Coast. For more information visit:

Aboriginal Aftercare

Hunter Primary Care currently deliver Aboriginal Aftercare, an innovative suicide aftercare service, developed to save the lives of one of the population groups most at-risk of suicide –people who have attempted suicide or live with suicide ideation.

Consultations with Lifespan’s Aboriginal Advisory group resulted in a strong recommendation that the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People Aftercare service provides consumers with the opportunity to work with an identified Indigenous support coordinator to optimise the delivery of a culturally safe and appropriate support service.

The service delivers person-centred, non-clinical care and practical support after a suicide attempt, with the support coordinator linking clients into existing health, clinical and community-based services, to ensure that people are safe and accessing support that is available.

Suicide Prevention Training

Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR)

QPR is an online, evidence-based suicide prevention training. The program takes around one hour to complete and provides participants with:

• knowledge and skills to identify warning signs that someone may be suicidal
• confidence to talk to them about suicidal thoughts
• connect them with professional care

Visit the link for more details on how to access the training for free:

SafeSide suicide prevention workforce training

The SafeSide framework is an approach to workforce suicide prevention training. SafeSide focuses on planning interventions, rather than predicting the risk of suicide and is currently being implemented by primary care providers, within the Hunter, New England and Central Coast regions.

To find out more about the SafeSide framework watch our short webinar, or to bring the training to your workplace, please contact:

Other Training Options

Depending on demand and funding, the PHN commissions other training providers to deliver suicide prevention and intervention training across the Hunter, New England and Central Coast regions to support communities affected by suicide.

For more information on training packages and commissioned providers, please contact Francesca Groves.