Need help immediately?

If there is a life-threatening safety concern, please call 9-1-1 or go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital.

Suicide prevention hotline: 1-800-784-2433

BC Crisis Line: 604-310-6789

Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868

Indigenous Crisis and Support Line - KUU-US Crisis Support Line: 1-800-588-8717

Harm reduction: Toward the Heart 

Suicide attempt follow-up, education & research (S.A.F.E.R.) is a free, time-limited counselling service that provides counselling for individuals aged 19 and over who have made a suicide attempt, are currently suicidal, or have suicidal ideation.

Emergency contacts

If you or someone you know needs help, call one of these numbers:

  • Medical emergencies and missing persons: 9-1-1
  • Crisis: 1 (800) SUICIDE 1 (800) 784-2433
  • Mental Health Support: (604) 310-6789

How a S.A.F.E.R. counselor can help you

SAFER also offers support and education for people who are concerned about the risk of suicide in a significant other or bereaved by a suicide death, training, education, and professional consultation in the areas of suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention.

Call the Access and Assessment Centre (AAC) at (604) 675-3700 to connect with S.A.F.E.R. if you are feeling suicidal, you are concerned about someone who is suicidal or you are experiencing suicide bereavement.

Some warning signs you might notice:

  • Talking or hinting about death or suicide.
  • Past suicide attempts.
  • Recent painful losses.
  • Difficulty coping with stress.
  • Sudden changes in how the person acts or feels.
  • Signs of depression (crying, problems sleeping or eating, feeling hopeless). 
  • Getting ready for death (saying goodbye, giving things away, making a will).
  • Increasing use of alcohol or substances.  
  • Increased risk-taking behaviours.

If you or someone you know is feeling suicidal

Counselling may help learn new ways to cope with difficult times and painful feelings. S.A.F.E.R. can help to:

  • Discuss ways to keep you safe.
  • Deal with painful feelings.
  • Talk about what has happened in your life that causes you pain.
  • Begin to set goals and feel more hopeful.
  • Learn how to work on and solve problems.
  • Build on your strengths.

If you are concerned about someone who is suicidal

S.A.F.E.R. offers up to three appointments with a counsellor to a person concerned about someone who is suicidal. During these sessions you can:

  • Learn about what to do, how to get help, and where to go for support.
  • Talk about your concerns.
  • Get facts about suicide risk.
  • Learn when to get help.
  • Discuss ways to look after yourself.

If you are experiencing suicide bereavement 

S.A.F.E.R. offers individual counselling to individuals who have lost someone to suicide. We also offer counsellor-led groups for those ready to work on their grief with others.

 

 

Other mental health services

Educational workshops

S.A.F.E.R. counsellors offer educational workshops in Suicide Intervention and Suicide Bereavement for mental health workers and residents of the City of Vancouver. For more information, call the Clinical Educator at (604) 675-3710.

This service is available at
This service is available at

Suicide Attempt Follow-up, Education & Research (S.A.F.E.R.) at VGH

899 West 12th Avenue
Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9
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