Free Counselling Centers to Close After Helping Many People
ABC North Coast
Topic: Mental Health
Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 7:53am
Greg Clitheroe lost his wife to cancer, but a free counseling service called Safe Haven helped him.
In short:
A mental health service in Northern Rivers will close at the end of the month.
People want to keep the service open because it has helped them a lot.
What's next?
A smaller service will stay in Lismore for 12 months.
Greg Clitheroe thought he was strong, but he struggled after his wife died.
He said, 'After three weeks, I hit rock bottom, and I didn't know what to do.'
He thought he could cope with his wife's death, but it was very hard for him.
Greg went to a Safe Haven center in his area for help.
He said, 'It was a lifesaver for me.'
People who use Safe Haven are trying to save the service.
Greg said the center helped him without judging him.
He said, 'This is just a life problem. It needs someone kind to listen and give hope.'
A man named Michael Maloney also got help from Safe Haven.
If you need help, you can call a special number.
Michael has bipolar disorder and was very depressed at the end of 2022.
He found Safe Haven by chance and said it saved his life.
Michael said, 'I live in hope that something can be done to save Safe Haven.'
There are 23 Safe Haven centers in New South Wales.
They are part of a plan to reduce suicide.
The four pop-up centers in Northern Rivers were set up after big floods in 2022.
18,500 hours of free counseling were given.
Almost 19,000 people got help from the pop-up centers.
The centers in Woodburn closed, but the others stayed open for a bit longer.
Michael said, 'Where do we go now?'
He said, 'Safe Haven is everything. It's a caring place where I feel safe.'
The community is sad about the centers closing.
A psychologist said many people need mental health help in Northern Rivers.
She said, 'We try to see people quickly, but it can take a week to get an appointment.'
The psychologist said, 'The mental health problem is big, and we can't meet the need.'
There are 450 people waiting for help in Lismore.
The chief executive of Healthy North Coast said they are helping people find other services.
She said, 'I understand people are disappointed about the changes.'
There are other face-to-face services in Murwillumbah.
You can call a 24/7 mental health line for help.
The pop-up mental health service helped almost 19,000 people.
There will be a temporary service in Lismore for 12 months.
The chief executive said the Lismore site had more demand than the others.
She said, 'We can continue for 12 months, but this is using leftover money, not new funding.'
She said, 'If the government gives us more money, we will try to keep the service going.'
The Tweed Heads South Safe Haven is not closing.
ABC North Coast has local news.
Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 7:53am
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