12-May-2017
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On the Line secures ongoing funding for suicide prevention services
On the Line is pleased to announce that the Department of Health have agreed to continue to fund On the Line to deliver suicide prevention services:
- All Hours Support service (AHS, formerly ATAPS) for a further year until 30 June 2018
- Suicide Call Back Service (SCBS) for a further two years until 30 June 2019.
On the Line CEO Kim O’Neill said, “This is great news and shows the value in the services On the Line provide and the trust that the Government has in us to deliver these vital services.
“Improving support in suicide prevention is a major issue for Australia. Recent statistics show that in Australia, there have been small but gradual increases in suicide rates, particularly among working-aged males (25–54 years)[1]. Every suicide is a tragedy and our counsellors see first-hand the long-lasting impact of suicide on those left behind, families, friends and entire communities.
“On the Line supports suicide prevention by ensuring our counselling services are part of a systematic and integrated approach. People who are at risk of suicide should have immediate access to care and follow-up support. AHS and SCBS services help meet these objectives.”
AHS is a specialised national telephone service designed to support at-risk clients of the Primary Health Networks (PHNs) when their allied health provider is not available. On the Line provides clients with access to professional telephone counselling 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“We’ve had positive feedback from mental health providers about the AHS program. AHS uses a patient centred approach to care where clients have seamless access to professional support between or while they wait to visit their mental health provider”, Ms O’Neill said.
SCBS provides counselling to thousands of Australians affected by suicide each year. This includes people feeling suicidal, people worried about someone else at risk of suicide, people bereaved by suicide and health professionals supporting people affected by suicide.
On the Line is committed to delivering exceptional quality, accessible support to people at risk and will continue to explore opportunities and new initiatives to support suicide prevention in Australia.
[1] Milner A and Page A et al. 2016 ANZJP;51:99-100
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For media enquiries or further information, contact:
Samantha Fredericks, Head of Business Strategy and Innovation
On the Line
T: 03 8371 2800
About On the Line Australia
On the Line is a national provider of some of Australia’s most vital and trusted services including MensLine Australia, Suicide Call Back Service and SuicideLine (Victoria). On the Line counsellors are expert in suicide and trauma-informed practice for anyone affected by suicide, mental health, men’s mental health, family violence (using and experiencing), healthy relationships, chronic health conditions, and substance abuse.
Our 24/7 telephone, web chat and video counselling services are staffed by professional counsellors, psychologists or social workers. All our counsellors are multi-skilled across telephone, web chat and video counselling and highly experienced providing interventions from crisis support to general counselling.
MensLine Australia – 1300 78 99 78