Crisis Support Services is funded to provide the ATAPS After-Hours Suicide Support Line. This phone service supports clients of the ATAPS Suicide Prevention Service and operates between 5pm and 9am Monday to Friday and 24 hours on weekends and public holidays.
The ATAPS After-Hours Suicide Support Line can be accessed in two ways:
- Allied health providers, referring practitioners or Divisional Officers may contact the ATAPS After-Hours Support Line directly and request that a call be made to a client. This can be used when an allied health provider is unable to see the client immediately, for example when a client is referred to the ATAPS Suicide Prevention Service outside of business hours. It can also be used where an allied health provider feels an existing client needs additional support outside of standard business hours.
- A client of the ATAPS Suicide Prevention Service may directly contact the ATAPS After-Hours Support Line when they feel they need additional support.
Divisions of General Practice and Medicare Locals can obtain further information and resources to assist in promotion of the ATAPS After-Hours Suicide Support Line from Crisis Support Services by contacting the Program Leader, Suicide Services on (03) 8371 2800.