StandBy Response Service

The StandBy Response Service is a community based program that provides a 24 hour coordinated crisis response to assist families, friends and associates who have been bereaved through suicide. The service uses a community and evidence-based model which was developed from the latest theories in trauma, loss, grief and suicide bereavement.

In many cases people bereaved by suicide do not know where to turn for help or how to find support that may already exist. The StandBy Response Service provides a reliable, single point of contact coordinating existing services to enable an immediate response.

StandBy was developed by Queensland human resources company, United Synergies Limited, in 2002 in response to a number of suicides in the Noosa hinterland region and the inability of the community to collectively respond.

Aims

The aim of the StandBy Response Service is to reduce potential adverse health outcomes and assist in addressing further suicidal behaviour. The service achieves this by providing an integrated and comprehensive response using existing emergency and community support mechanisms. Active participation and cooperation of a wide range of agencies such as police, ambulance, coronial services and community groups, results in bereaved people accessing the right support, at the right time and in the right place.

'StandBy’s experience indicates that support is more effective when available and delivered from within the local community especially where cultural needs exist,’ says national StandBy coordinator Jill Fisher, ‘to ensure local support is culturally appropriate StandBy works closely with mainstream services to fully meet all community needs.’

Location

StandBy currently operates in four communities around Australia in conjunction with local community partners. These locations are:

• Cairns 
• Canberra
• North Brisbane
• Sunshine & Cooloola Coasts

Plans are underway to expand the service into the Kimberley and Pilbara regions of Western Australia and into Tasmania by mid 2009.

Lessons learned

• Many people know someone who has died by suicide. 
• There is still stigma attached to suicide but people are becoming more open and  understanding.

Project partners

The four locations of the StandBy Response Service have different partnerships with local organisations. These include:

• Lifeline Community Care
• Emergency services 
• Health services (including Mental Health)
• Funeral services
• Indigenous groups
• Education services
• Local councils 
• Bereavement support groups

More information