Sunlight Centre - Crisis Counselling
Sunlight Centre - Crisis Counselling
If you are experiencing a mental health emergency now and you (or a person you are supporting) are an immediate risk of acting on thoughts of suicide call 000.
Support for people experiencing thoughts of suicide
We provide free face to face counselling and Online Resources to help teens and adults experiencing thoughts of suicide. Our confidential counselling is available at our Morningside and Carindale locations. You can self-refer and do not need a mental health plan or referral from a medical practitioner to access our counselling.
Contact us now by phone 1300 259 724 or use our Online Form to access counselling. Please provide your name and contact information, and your preferred days and times to access counselling. One of our qualified counsellors or mental health workers will be in contact within 24 hours to respectfully discuss your support needs.
Click Here to find out more about our counselling process.
Testimonial from a counselling client:
“The Sunlight Centre provided a safe space where I could express my feelings and thoughts without feeling threatened or unsafe. I never felt pressured to answer any questions or felt judged. I've gained a new mindset and a skill set to be able to deal with my anxieties and depression head on; in a productive and beneficial way. At the moment I am reaping the benefits of the work we've done over the last number of months and I couldn't be happier. I'm now able to look forward instead of feeling consumed by present and past fears; I can now answer my own inner voice with confidence and reassurance. I feel in control of situations in my life that once over whelmed me. So, once again, thank you!“
When someone finds the courage to talk about suicide, they are actively reaching out for help. This needs to be addressed immediately.
If the person has immediate plans to act on thoughts of suicide, this is a mental health emergency. Support the person to call 000, or to call Lifeline on 13 11 14 for 24/7 crisis support.
How to provide support to a family member or friend
The Sunlight Centre is here to help. If you are worried about a family member, loved one or a friend please call us on 1300 259 724.
Here are a few ‘Red flags’ which describe behaviours of individuals that are suggestive or risk of self-harming or suicidal behaviour.
Warning signs if someone is at risk for suicide include:
Pay attention to their language and behaviour. People often talk about suicide in vague or unclear ways.
Your friend could say things that reflect a sense of shame, hopelessness, or failure. They may not say, “I want to die,” or “I want to kill myself.” Instead, they might say:
Their mood and actions can also show some signs. You might notice they:
These signs don’t always mean your friend is thinking about suicide. If you are worried about a loved one, family member or friend please call us for advice or to book an appointment to meet with one of our accredited counsellors.
Why am I self harming?
Intentionally harming yourself is one way to express difficult emotions. Self-harm might be your way of releasing distress or anger. It may be the only way you know how to cope. The Sunlight Centre can support you with alternate coping strategies, that might reduce and even stop the self-harm.
Counselling support
Our confidential face to face counselling is available at our Morningside and Carindale locations. You can self-refer and do not need a mental health plan or referral from a medical practitioner to access our counselling.
Contact us now by phone 1300 259 724 or use our Online Form to access counselling. Please provide your name and contact information, and your preferred days and times to access counselling. One of our qualified counsellors or mental health workers will be in contact within 24 hours to respectfully discuss your support needs.
Some people also find it helpful to tell a friend or family member and confide in someone you trust about what’s happening. It is normal to be worried about talking about your feelings.
Click Here to find out more about our counselling process.
Testimonial from a counselling client:
“The Sunlight Centre provided a safe space where I could express my feelings and thoughts without feeling threatened or unsafe. I never felt pressured to answer any questions or felt judged. I've gained a new mindset and a skill set to be able to deal with my anxieties and depression head on; in a productive and beneficial way. At the moment I am reaping the benefits of the work we've done over the last number of months and I couldn't be happier. I'm now able to look forward instead of feeling consumed by present and past fears; I can now answer my own inner voice with confidence and reassurance. I feel in control of situations in my life that once over whelmed me. So, once again, thank you!“
Anyone can self-harm and this can take form in many different forms.
It can be a way of coping with stress or painful experiences. When people intentionally harm themselves it becomes a active coping technique. We can help teach new coping techniques to reduce and end self harm.
If someone opens ups about their self harm, you can offer support immediately. Show them kindness and compassion without any judgement.
Help them get the support they need by asking their permission to contact the Sunlight Centre on their behalf. Offer to attend the first appointment with them, even if they’re over 18.
Listen
As hard as it may be, try not to react straight away. You may react with anger due to feeling a lack of control or fear and that anger might push your loved one away. Take time, take a breath, talk to someone you trust or call the Sunlight Centre to talk to a counsellor.
Don’t tell them to stop
A crisis counsellor rarely tells a client to “stop self-harming” as this would just result in the client disengaging and continuing to self-harm anyway. A counsellor will ask the client what they’d like to do, such as stop now or reduce with the intention of guardian, try the same tactic. Your parenting instinct says “Stop!” however that’s a reaction, being able to sit with your loved one, and work out what they’d like to do, can create achievable options.
Different points of view
Whether we like it or not, there is at least 1 generational gap between parents and children. This means there are different views and opinions between them. The parent has an older, more mature way of seeing things due to experience, the teenager is still coming to grasps with how the their world works. You will differ on beliefs, so knowing that before you sit and chat can help.
Learn
Once you’ve been able to engage with your teenager, see if you can find out the frequency and severity of the self-harm. Have they ever been worried that they cut too deep? Have they ever gone to hospital or a GP by themselves due to a self-harm behaviour? Have they also had suicidal thoughts as well as the self-harm urges? If yes to any of these, please call the Sunlight Centre to arrange a counsellor to work with them or contact your local GP.
Support – You are not alone
Self-harm is on the rise in Queensland, and many teenagers have come across it, maybe even tried it.
Please feel free to call the Sunlight Centre together to get support and one on one counsellor to best help your loved one.
The Sunlight Centre provides Mental Wellness workshops for businesses, schools, and sporting or community groups
Our interactive Mental Wellness and resilience workshops educate participants while giving practical everyday tools to help manage depression, stress and anxiety.
We tailor workshops to organisational needs and have previously delivered workshops around:
We can work with you around topics and content to best suit your current needs.
The Sunlight Centre also provides debriefing groups sessions after a particular incident occurs which may require additional support for staff, students or members.
Contact Us for more information.
Testimonial from a workshop participant:
"I found the workshop very engaging. I took a lot of tools and tips from it, and also understood a lot more about myself, and mental health in general."
The Sunlight Centre now offers affordable Accredited Youth and Adult Mental Health First Aid training. Click Here for information about Mental Health First Aid Training.
The Sunlight Centre delivers two forms of accredited mental health training.
Training is delivered by accredited trainers with strong experience gained from working in the mental health field.
Contact Us for information information about upcoming training or to schedule training for your organisation.
Testimonials from past participants
Accredited Counsellor:
" Thank you so much for the course and your valuable insights. I really enjoyed course and the warm, professional environment during the weekend that you have created. I found the course to be very beneficial. And would recommend it for all educators and parents. Your experience and real life examples are the greatest assets of the course which helps to understand how young people develop mental illness and how we can support at the earliest stage. Really appreciate your time in sharing your knowledge. Let me know if you organise any further training on different topics. Thank you.”
Masters of Counselling Student
"I really enjoyed the youth MHFA course through The Sunlight Centre and their drive to get the information out into the community. Ken's background in Counselling was advantageous as a facilitator in providing real world context to the course material through his own experiences in working with youth."
Mother & Youth Worker
“Due to my medical background and personal background, with family members going through difficult mental health issues, I would not have done the course with any other trainer. Ken’s background was very appealing, compared with other trainers in the past who were more like professional trainers. I was dreading that the instructor would be kind of fake, so I searched for someone with a professional mental health and psychology background and found Ken and the Sunlight Centre. I think Ken has seen a lot over his career and has his head around all the modules, especially psychosis, however much that is possible.”
When someone finds the courage to talk about suicide and self-harm they are actively reaching out for help. This needs to be addressed immediately.
It is important to respond with compassion and kindness. You can help the person by:
If the person has immediate plans to act on thoughts of suicide, this is a mental health emergency. Support the person to call 000, or to call Lifeline on 13 11 14 for 24/7 crisis support.
Click Here for more information about supporting friends and family with thoughts of suicide.
Click Here for more information about supporting friends and family with self-harm behaviour.
For people in the Brisbane area, you can Contact Us for support and to help connect the person you are supporting to access free non-judgemental and personalised counselling available at our Morningside or Carindale locations.
