Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40826401›Full record

ArticleBMC health services research2025

Safe spaces as an alternative ​to the emergency department for suicidal distress: ​exploring guests' experiences​.

Cassandra Chakouch, Philip J Batterham, Scott J Fitzpatrick, Amelia Gulliver, Alison L Calear, Helen T Oni, Michelle Banfield, Fiona Shand

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMC health services research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Peer-Led Models Focussed on Emotional Distress and Suicide Prevention: A Scoping Review.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2026
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Cassandra ChakouchBlack Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Philip J BatterhamCentre for Mental Health Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
Scott J FitzpatrickCentre for Mental Health Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
Amelia GulliverCentre for Mental Health Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
Alison L CalearCentre for Mental Health Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
Helen T OniCollege of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Michelle BanfieldCentre for Mental Health Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
Fiona ShandBlack Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia. fionas@unsw.edu.au.

Funding

Department of Health and Aged Care, Australian Government National Suicide Prevention Research Fund Targeted Research Grant (managed by Suicide Prevention Australia)
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAustralians experiencing suicidal crises are routinely directed to emergency departments (ED), despite EDs being perceived as inappropriate and under-resourced to adequately address mental health and suicidal crises. To address this significant gap in care, non-clinical "safe spaces" have emerged as an alternative, but research on their effectiveness in Australia remains limited. This study evaluates guest satisfaction, perceived helpfulness of services, and factors associated with distress reduction in safe spaces.

methodsThis study analysed routine care data from Stride, an Australian safe space provider, for N = 906 first-time guests at three locations (Blacktown, Wollongong, and Belconnen). Guest characteristics, service factors, and perceived helpfulness were assessed. Regression models examined predictors of distress reduction and visit helpfulness.

resultsGuests reported significant distress reduction on exit (p <.001, 95% CI: 27.94-30.57). Greater reductions were associated with longer stays (p <.001), "coffee and chats" with a peer worker (p <.001), use of sensory modulation tools (p =.007), and outgoing referrals (p =.003), while bringing a support person (p <.001) was associated with smaller distress decreases. Follow-up data (n = 486, 53.6%), showed most guests found their visit helpful (97.9%, n = 476) and preferred safe spaces over EDs for future distress (81.3%, n = 395).

conclusionsFindings suggest safe spaces effectively reduce distress and are a preferred alternative to EDs. This highlights their potential as a community-based, non-clinical option for individuals in suicidal crisis.

Indexed as

Emergency Service, HospitalPsychological DistressSuicidal IdeationSuicide PreventionAdolescentAdultAustraliaFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPatient SatisfactionYoung AdultMental healthNon-clinical carePeer workersPsychological distressSafe spacesSuicide prevention

Identifiers

PMID40826401
PMCPMC12359921

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.