Looking back over the past five years brings a smile to the face of Amie Dutton, who currently heads the Tweed’s Towards Zero Suicide program.
Amie and her team have overseen the establishment of the District’s only Safe Haven drop-in centre, located in the heart of Tweed Heads’ retail precinct in Minjungbal Drive.
Tweed Heads Safe Haven is one of 23 centres across NSW, offering a place where people can get calm and culturally sensitive support if they are experiencing distress or suicidal thoughts.
It is a safe place where you can talk openly about how you are feeling and what you’re going through, in a setting where they can feel supported and not judged.
Receiving funding approval for the Centre in 2020, the team has worked tirelessly since its opening in November 2021 to ensure its operational success, becoming the first Safe Haven centre in NSW to open seven days a week.
“Keeping people out of hospital is what Safe Haven is all about,” Amie said.
“This provides a better alternative to presenting to a hospital emergency department. We know the ED is not a great place for anyone, especially someone experiencing suicidal thoughts.”
Instead, Safe Haven operates as a free drop-in centre, where peer workers with lived experienced are on hand seven days a week, from 12pm to 6pm, with no appointment needed.
The Centre now sees about 300 visits each month, with numbers “almost doubling overnight” after the new Tweed Valley Hospital opened at Cudgen.
People of any age are welcome, including those aged under 16, provided a carer or guardian is aware and engaged at the start.
“It’s been way more successful than I ever could have imagined. I’m so proud of everyone and what we’ve achieved,” Amie said.
“People receive connection and support with standard mental health treatment available.
“It is really powerful for people to be able to connect with someone who has similar experience themselves – it’s not really offered anywhere else in the region.”
The centre offers support as well a place for people to pop-in if they’re looking for a quiet space in a supportive environment.
The centre also hosts Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) clinics twice a week, a type of therapy which teaches skills to manage intense emotions and behaviours.
To find out more, email the team.
Some of the team members at Safe Haven Tweed are, from left: Susan Jannese, Amie Dutton, Nikki Robins, Kath Moyes and Michael Whipps.
Drop in for a cuppa and a chat at Tweed Heads Safe Haven at 3/24 Minjungbal Drive, Tweed Heads South (next to Bugalwena General Practice).