REDLAND Hospital is the site of an innovative trial program to support people with suicidal thoughts and related behaviours.
The Living EDge program will use peer support workers to help people who go to the hospital's emergency department in suicidal distress.
It is managed by Enlightened Consultants and mental health organisation Brook RED.
The program, funded by Queensland Health, was co-designed by people who had experienced suicidal distress, their family and friends as well as support workers.
As part of the program, a Living EDge waiting room has been set up at Redlands which can be used as an alternative to the sometimes crowded emergency department.
Brook RED general manager Eschleigh Balzamo said Redland Hospital was chosen as the test site for the project because the hospital had been proactive in suicide prevention.
She said the Redlands community had a track record for championing new approaches and working together as a community to address complex challenges.
"The support that the project has had from Redland Hospital and the entire community has been amazing," she said.
Ms Balzamo said the special waiting room could also be used as a self-management space to prevent the need for people to attend the emergency department.
"The main purpose of this space is to offer hospitality, to be with people in distress and to offer and arrange any ongoing peer support," she said.
"It is designed to address the needs of people experiencing suicidal distress and to reduce the need to rely on emergency responses which are often overburdened."
Ms Balzamo said Living EDge also provided short-term support for up to 12 weeks to help people wanting to build skills to better manage suicidal distress.
Evidence for peer work as a response to people in mental distress was mounting internationally, and the model could be used to benefit Redlands.
Living EDge will be trialled until the end of September.
People can self-refer to the service by contacting the Living EDge team on 0433 724 337.
In a crisis, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or call 000.