About
Care Collaborate Connect
Transforming Suicide Prevention Through Consumer-Centred Care
In 2016, Dr Helen Stallman pioneered a groundbreaking approach to suicide prevention that fundamentally changed how healthcare professionals support people in distress. Responding to extensive research showing consumers were being harmed when seeking help for suicidality, she developed the world’s first needs- and strengths-based framework for supporting individuals—with or without suicidal thoughts and behaviours.
A Response to Consumer Harm
Traditional approaches to suicide prevention often left people feeling traumatised, dismissed, or inadequately supported. Reviews and research consistently revealed a troubling pattern: consumers asking for help were experiencing harm rather than healing. Care Collaborate Connect emerged as a direct response to these failures, with one clear goal—training health professionals and students to meet the individual needs of every person who asks for help.
Evidence-Based Impact
Care Collaborate Connect delivers measurable outcomes for both consumers and practitioners:
- Healthcare professionals report feeling more relaxed and confident when supporting people with suicidality, enabling them to focus more on listening, caring, and respecting consumer autonomy and decision-making.
- Consumers experience significantly improved healthcare interactions and healthcare that meets their needs.
- Consumers no longer feel shame and fear discussing suicidality, trusting they will be cared about and supported.
Theoretical Foundations
Care Collaborate Connect is underpinned by Dr Stallman’s Health Theory of Coping and Coping Continuum, providing a robust theoretical basis for this advanced, personalised approach to suicide prevention.
Our Vision
As more practitioners adopt this framework, healthcare becomes progressively better aligned to individual needs. Together, we can reduce the incidence of suicide by ensuring everyone receives the care and personalised support they deserve when they need it most.