Integrated suicide prevention initiatives aim to save lives

Minister for Indigenous Health, Hon Ken Wyatt AM, MP has thanked Brisbane North PHN and its partners for the launch of local initiatives under the National Suicide Prevention Trial targeting high-risk populations in the North Brisbane and Moreton Bay region.

In a video message played at the launch on 21 February 2019, Minister Wyatt said the initiatives implemented through the Brisbane North trial mark a major step forward.

“I am committed to supporting young people, families, communities, Elders, and service providers, and all levels government as we work together to reduce the loss of life through suicide,” he said.

While the trial has been running locally since March last year, Brisbane North PHN Chief Executive Officer Abbe Anderson said the aim was to increase community awareness and access to services.

“We have identified three priority population groups whose rate of suicide is higher than average and who are therefore the focus of these campaigns,” Ms Anderson said.

“The priority groups include LGBTIQ+ communities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and young adult to middle aged men aged between 25 and 55 years,” she said.

“Like a number of the other trial sites around the country, we have adopted the Black Dog Institute’s LifeSpan Framework for our local trial implementation.

“This framework incorporates nine interrelated strategies, which when implemented at the same time, are more likely to lead to a reduction in suicide.

“It is also important to note that we are conducting this trial within the broader context of our five-year regional plan for mental health, suicide prevention and alcohol and other drugs treatment services.

“We are determined to bring down the rate of suicide in our region and we think the LifeSpan Framework is the most effective way to achieve this among our priority population groups,” Ms Anderson said.

Agencies funded under the Brisbane North trial will be implementing activities that include:

• improving emergency and follow up care after suicide attempts
• advanced suicide prevention training for practitioners, including building a connection to community and care pathways
• developing a regional media protocol for best practice reporting
• increasing cultural responsiveness around suicide prevention
• establishing communities of practice for people with a lived experience of suicide
• promoting help-seeking, mental health and resilience in schools
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander specialist support
• LGBTIQ+ specialist support
• GP capacity building.

For each priority group, a collaborative co-design process is guiding the work. Stakeholder consultations are community driven with cultural governance and informed by people with a lived experience.

For more information about the National Suicide Prevention Trial contact Brisbane North PHN on 07 3630 7300 or email info@brisbanenorthphn.org.au.

For crisis support call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467.

Brisbane North PHN is partnering with a number of agencies to deliver its local implementation of the trial, including: Centre for Human Potential, Kurbingui Youth Development Ltd, Queensland AIDS Council, Open Doors Youth Service, Diverse Voices (QLife), True Relationships, Brook RED, Wendybird, Roses in the Ocean, y2K (Youth 2 Knowledge), Beacon Strategies, Wesley Mission, the Australian Institute of Suicide Research and Prevention (Griffith University), Indigilez and the gar’ban’djee’lum network.