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Carer
The term ‘carer’ is often used in the healthcare system to describe someone who helps with a person’s daily living. We use ‘carer’ to refer to someone who provides support to, or advocates on behalf of, another person. This includes practical, emotional, social, financial, and physical care. A carer might be a friend, work colleague, partner, sibling, wife, husband, parent, or child.
Patient/consumer/client
Depending on the health service you use, the person you care about may be called different things. They can choose for themselves which term they prefer.
Family member or friend
Both kin and non-kin relationships can be impacted when someone attempts suicide. Almost half of the people who took part in You are not alone were not intimately related to the person they provide care for.
Self-harm or non-suicidal self-injury
These terms are used when someone harms themselves without the intent of dying.
Suicide attempt
This term is used when someone tries to take their own life. They have thoughts of wanting to die and have acted upon these thoughts.
Suicidal ideation
This term is used if someone has thoughts about wanting to take their own life or die, but has not acted upon them.
Head to Health has more information on suicidal thoughts.
Primary health care
This term describes the first contact a person has with a health system. In terms of suicide attempt, this might relate to the treatment of someone while they are in the community (GP, community mental health, etc.) rather than when they are admitted to hospital.
Person-centred care
This refers to care that focusses on the needs of person receiving the care. As a carer, your needs might not be the highest priority — they may be viewed through the lens of the person’s needs. This focus helps you identify your own needs. You can access support for yourself through your own GP or care team.
Discharge
Discharge refers to the process of leaving the hospital and any subsequent plans that are developed to care for the person and their family once they’ve returned home.
Practical support needs
These include financial, household tasks and personal care requirements.
Social and emotional support needs
A person’s broader needs — desires, spiritual needs, religious needs, and the ups and downs of living with a complex mental health issue, or responding to trauma.
Peer support
The support shared between people based on shared experience and understanding, rather than professional expertise. Other terms that mean something similar are ‘consumer support’ (people who use the same services as you), or ‘people with lived experience’.
Lived experience
In Australia, and on You are not alone, we use a broad definition of lived experience to include those who are bereaved, those who have attempted, and those who have supported someone who has attempted or died by suicide.