Suicide Attempt, Follow-up, Education & Research (S.A.F.E.R.)
Related topics: Depression, mood and anxiety Mental health Mental health and substance use Mental health and substance use services in Vancouver Psychosis and thought disorders
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Need help immediately?
If there is an urgent safety concern, please call 9-1-1 or go to emergency at your nearest hospital.
Suicide prevention hotline: 1-800-784-2433
Call BC Crisis Line: 604-310-6789
Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868
BC Wide Indigenous Toll-Free 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.
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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
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Mental health and suicide services
Crisis Centre BC
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BC 211
Find programs and services in your community.
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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.