Crisis care for people having mental health difficulties and support for families and carers.
Our Services
Safe Harbour, a Crisis Support Space (CSS), is an alternative to the emergency department for people experiencing mental health crisis, distress or thoughts of suicide.
We offer support from peer workers and clinicians in a warm, therapeutic environment where you can relax and talk to someone who will take the time to listen and help you work through what’s happening.
Peer workers are people with lived experience of mental health challenges, who can relate to what you’re going through. They’re trained to provide support to others, provide tools and strategies, and be a source of hope for recovery.
How do I access Safe Harbour?
Access to Safe Harbour is voluntary and you can get to us in various ways:
- Via the emergency department to enable you to be triaged first (and for medical assessment or care if needed)
- Via referral from Mackay HHS acute/community mental health services, co-responder, MH-CALL, and other community providers.
- By presenting directly to the space beside the emergency department
- Once you’ve accessed Safe Harbour, you’ll be able to return directly to the space for support in future – unless you meet any exclusion criteria.
Who is the space for?
Safe Harbour supports people aged 16 years and older who are experiencing a mental health crisis, regardless of whether they have a pre-existing mental health diagnosis or not. It’s suitable if:
- You’re experiencing situational crisis or distress.
- You’re having thoughts of suicide or self-harm.
- You’re presenting as part of a recovery / crisis / safety plan.
- You’re feeling overwhelmed and unable to cope.
- You’re experiencing trauma, grief or a personal crisis.
- You do not require immediate medical treatment.
The space isn’t suitable for those who present a risk of immediate harm to themselves or others, who are highly intoxicated or agitated, experiencing an acute psychotic episode, or who require immediate medical treatment.
Location and opening hours
The Crisis Support Space is open between 2pm and 9pm seven days per week, including public holidays.
Safe Harbour is located next to the emergency entrance at Mackay Base Hospital, 475 Bridge Road, Mackay. 4740 Queensland.
For further information or support
For more details about our crisis support spaces programs – watch these short videos featuring interviews with peer workers, clinicians and consumers.
What is a Crisis Support Space?
What’s different about CSSs?
CSS Consumer Reflections
What do Peer Workers do?
If you need help now or are in immediate danger, call 000 or 1300 MH-CALL.