CYPRESS

What is CYPRESS?

CYPRESS stands for Children & Young People REsponsive Suicide Support. It is a free and long term support service for children and young people between the ages of 6 and 18 who have been bereaved by suicide.

Suicide is the leading cause of death of children between 5 and 17 years old. Children and young people under the age of 18 who lose a parent to suicide are up to three times more likely to complete suicide than children and young people living with their parents. CYPRESS services offered include counselling, home visits and outreach, support groups, community capacity building, and peer support.

CYPRESS operates across the entire metro area and offers outreach and office based support as needed.

Counselling
Individual, group or family counselling is provided by professional bereavement counsellors who are also specialised in working with children and young people.

Home visits and outreach
Counsellors can visit the family home, school, youth centre, community centre, park or nominated place to provide support where people feel most comfortable.

Support groups
Therapeutic and psychoeducational groups are available for children, young people and their families.

Community capacity building
Provide information or support sessions to other professionals on suicide postvention.

Peer support
Increase connectedness and reduce feelings of isolation by linking in with others who have a lived experience of suicide.

How can CYPRESS be accessed?

Referrals to CYPRESS are open. Agencies, schools, individuals, families and friends can contact CYPRESS during business hours.

Referrals can be made by telephoning the CYPRESS contact line on 1300 11 44 46 or emailing cypress@anglicarewa.org.au.

Visit the CYPRESS website

Acknowledgements

CYPRESS is funded by the Mental Health Commission until June 2019.