Safe Space at The Prince Charles Hospital
Safe Space peer worker with consumers.
A partnership between Metro North Mental Health and Queensland Health, Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drugs Branch has resulted in the opening of a new crisis support space – the Safe Space – at the Prince Charles Hospital which opened on 21 January 2021.
The Safe Space is aimed at improving our response to people experiencing mental health crises. It provides a dedicated, home-like area for people who are currently experiencing mental health crisis, distress or suicidal thoughts. Through the provision of timely peer and clinical support, consumers and carers are able to recover in a comfortable location away from the Emergency Department, and are supported with strategies, linkages and follow-up when they leave.
The Safe Space was a partnership pilot initiative that has involved numerous staff, consumers and community partners. The initiative emerged out of extensive community consultation and a statewide co-design process. Four consumers and carers were involved in the Safe Space Committee. In the building and design phase, the Committee was involved in selecting the style of the Safe Space. During the next phase, committee members were actively engaged in the development of referral path design, role definition, local service guidelines, procedure and operational guidelines and will continue to be involved in monitoring and evaluation.
2022 Update
Since its opening, the Safe Space has been rapidly and safely transitioning people from Emergency Department and providing the support people need when they are experiencing a mental health crisis and do not know how to cope or where else to go for help. Consumers and carers / support people are finding immediate respite in the Safe Space and leaving with new strategies and linkages, feeling hopeful and on a road to recovery.
The number of people accessing the service has steadily increased to 53 presentations in June 2022, reflecting the demand for mental health services and the need for alternative approaches to existing mental health care models. There are a range of supports offered to consumers including sensory techniques, reflective listening, mindfulness and warm referrals to community services. More than 90% of people using the Safe Space returned home and were offered community supports.
The team includes, a senior mental health clinician, an advanced peer worker and a peer worker operating between the hours of 2pm-8pm Monday to Thursdays and Friday 5pm-8pm. Peer workers are highly skilled peer specialists who can use their own lived experience of mental health challenges and recovery to support people in their own recovery journey. Peer workers are central to the Safe Space model for their ability to connect with people, develop rapport, and create a safe environment for consumers to share what they are experiencing. Using their unique lenses of lived and professional experience, the team collaborate with consumers and carers to find their own path to wellbeing. Demand in the service resulted in extending operational hours and increasing the workforce to respond to the community needs. We are continuing to evaluate and improve the service.
From June 2021 – May 2022, Safe Space received 18 compliments regarding the services particularly the support of peer workers. Here is an example:
“What a super awesome team. I was able to let out what I needed & the team listened, calmed me down & found ways of distracting me in ways I have an affinity for. I went home with my resilience more intact (issues at home still intense & unrelenting).”