Thoughtful and caring support services are available free to anyone who recently attempted suicide, is going through a suicidal crisis, or is in a period of distress.
These services are known as ‘Aftercare’. They can connect you to the support you need, and offer care to help you feel safe at this vulnerable time.
A support coordinator or peer worker can provide you with one-to-one support for up to three months (or longer at some services).
Based on your needs and goals, support can include:
If Aftercare is a service you think might be helpful to you or someone you care for, speak to your doctor or healthcare worker about getting a referral.
After being referred, a support coordinator or peer worker will contact you to discuss support.
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call Triple Zero 000 or go to your nearest Emergency Department.
Your can also call Lifeline on 13 11 14, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Or visit Get help now for more crisis services that may be better suited to you.
The support, care and connection that family, friends and carers can provide to someone after a suicide attempt or suicidal distress is critical.
If you also need support during this time, consider:
Aftercare services are delivered by local community based organisations, referred to as service providers. They are co-funded by the NSW and Australian Governments through an agreement between Primary Health Networks and Local Health Districts.
The partnership aims to expand and improve access to suicide aftercare services in NSW to ensure all people in NSW have access to support when they need it. This is part of The National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement
Across NSW, aftercare services are being expanded to continue improving access to support and care, aiming to create a more integrated mental health and suicide prevention system.
To find an Aftercare service in your local area, click the drop down arrow next to the NSW region where you live, to find services available near you.
To find support for children and young people, please visit Support for children and young people after a suicide attempt or crisis.
Note: Some of the services listed may accept self-referrals. Please ask your local service directly using the contact details provided to confirm if you can book an appointment without a referral from a health professional.
To find out which Local Health District (LHD) you belong to, refer to the map of local health districts.
The Way Back program is delivered by Neami National, offering non-clinical support for people after a suicide attempt or crisis for up to 3 months. It provides people with regular contact, motivational support, help developing a personal safety plan, and can connect people with community services like financial or relationship counselling when needed. Support is flexible and can be provided in person or by phone.
Sydney and South Eastern Sydney LHDs.
People can access the service through referral from local health district staff following a hospital visit, related to a suicide attempt or crisis.
Open to all ages. Young people are also referred to youth-specific services alongside The Way Back.
Care Connect is delivered by Social Futures and provides free support for people in the Hunter and Central Coast area following a suicide attempt. It provides personalised support, and help to develop a safety plan, including ways to self-manage mental and physical wellbeing. Care connect can also link people with community services and supports to ensure ongoing connection and stability after a crisis.
Hunter and Central Coast LHDs.
Referrals can be made by Mental Health teams, Emergency Departments or community organisations. People can self-refer and be referred via Care Connect Referral Form or by contacting careconnect@socialfutures.org.au.
Open to all ages.
Universal Aftercare is delivered by HealthWISE and provides primary, allied, mental health, and Aboriginal health services across rural and remote New England and North West NSW. The program provides free one-on-one non-clinical support to people affected by suicide, which focuses on building resilience, improving wellbeing and helping people feel more connected and supported.
Hunter New England LHD.
Referrals can be made through Medical Objects, by emailing mentalhealth@healthwise.org.au, or by using the self-referral form available on the HealthWISE website.
Universal Aftercare is delivered by Wellways and offers up to 3 months of non-clinical support after a suicide attempt or crisis. The program focuses on safety, recovery, and connection, with flexible, person-centred care. It includes safety planning, peer-led recovery, carer support, and links to community services, with priority support for diverse populations.
Murrumbidgee LHD.
Referrals can be made from GP's, aged care providers, Headspace, and schools by emailing aftercare.murrumbidgee@wellways.org.
The Way Back is delivered by Stride Australia and is a free, referral-only peer support service for people recovering after a suicide attempt or suicidal crisis. It provides up to 3 months of non-clinical outreach support, provided by peer support coordinators who use their lived experience to offer personalised support, safety planning, and connection to clinical services and community resources.
Nepean Blue Mountains LHD.
Referrals can be made from Nepean Hospital or from a Mental Health Access team following discharge from hospital by contacting thewayback-penrith@stride.com.au.
18+
The Way Back NSW North Coast is delivered by The Buttery and provides up to 3 months of non-clinical, trauma-informed support for people after a suicide attempt or crisis. Through proactive outreach, the service helps individuals develop safety and support plans, and connects them with clinical and community services to promote recovery and wellbeing.
Mid North Coast and Northern NSW LHDs.
Referral can only be made from hospital staff or community mental health services by emailing completed referrals to wayback@buttery.org.au or via fax to (02) 7238 1045. For more information please call (02) 5601 9600.
16+
The Way Back Support Service Northern Sydney is delivered by Proveda and provides non-clinical, personalised support for up to 3 months, for people with suicidal ideation or following a suicide attempt or crisis. Care coordinator will work alongside people to develop safety plans, build support and link people with clinical, community and practical services and supports.
Northern Sydney LHD.
Referrals can be made from clinicians through The Way Back NSW Referral Form. For more information please contact thewayback@proveda.com.au or call 1300 000 125.
Next Steps is delivered by Grand Pacific Health and is a peer-led clinical program offering compassionate, practical support for people experiencing suicidal distress. Led by peer workers with lived experience, the program helps people feel safer and take steps toward a life you value.
Illawarra Shoalhaven and Southern NSW LHDs.
Referrals are accepted from clinicians, organisations, or individuals. To request a referral form contact triage@gph.org.au or call (02) 4220 7600.
16+
REBUILD is delivered by Mission Australia and is a support program for people who have attempted or are thinking about suicide. It prioritises adult men and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, focusing on situational stressors and social prescribing. Care is delivered in partnership by peer workers—individuals with lived experience—and care coordinators who offer culturally safe support and help connect participants with services to aid their recovery.
Illawarra Shoalhaven and Southern NSW LHDs.
Referrals are accepted from clinicians, organisations, or individuals by using the online referral form. For more information please contact Rebuild@missionaustralia.com.au or call 0459 598 958.
The Way Back is delivered by Neami National and provides free compassionate, holistic non-clinical care to people who have experienced a suicidal attempt or crisis. The service offers individually tailored outreach support, to connect people to both clinical and community-based services to meet their needs. The outreach service will meet people, and those supporting them, in a place of their choosing.
South Western Sydney LHD.
Referrals are accepted through community mental health teams, emergency departments and inpatient services, Suicide Prevention Outreach Teams (SPOT) and Safe Haven. For more information please contact SWSAftercare@neaminational.org.au.
The Way Back NSW is delivered by Mission Australia and is a trauma-informed, non-clinical service to support people following a suicide attempt or experiencing suicidal crisis. The service provides proactive, non-clinical support and coordinating access to community services and networks, aiming to prevent further suicide attempts.
Western and Far West LHDs.
Referrals are accepted through local hospital Emergency Departments, Community Mental Health Teams, GP's, and self-referral by contacting westernwayback@missionaustralia.com.au.
The Way Back NSW is delivered by Neami National and provides up to 3 months of trauma-informed, non-clinical support for people following a suicide attempt or experiencing suicidal crisis. This service offers emotional support, service navigation and connections to other supports for people and those supporting them.
Western Sydney LHD.
Referrals are accepted through local hospitals and community mental health teams by contacting Intake.WSWayBack@neaminational.org.au.
16+
To support he expansion of Aftercare services across the state, the NSW Universal Aftercare Service Delivery Model was developed by the Agency for Clinical Innovation (ACI). The model provides practical guidance to help aftercare services support people after a suicide attempt or crisis.
The resource includes support for priority populations and practical considerations for governance and workforce development.
The NSW Universal Aftercare Service Delivery Model is available as a online resource.
Support for children and young people after a suicide attempt or crisis
