MANAGING THE RISK OF SUICIDE: A SUICIDE PREVENTION STRATEGY FOR
THE ACT 2009-2014
Dr Johann SheehanACT Health Directorate
September 2012
Overview of Managing the Risk of Suicide◦ Aims◦ Action areas
Key Achievements to date◦ Bereavement Counselling◦ Annual Men’s Mental Health Conference◦ Evaluation of Strategy◦ Let’s Talk for Suicide Prevention
Future areas of work
Presentation Overview
Extensive community consultation:◦ Agencies responsible for implementation
◦ General community
Development of Strategy – Community Consultation
Guided by national and local policy:◦ National Action Plan on Mental Health 2006-2011◦ National Mental Health Policy 2008◦ National Mental Health Plan 2009-2013◦ National Action Plan for PPEI◦ Life: Living is For Everyone (2007)◦ The Social Compact◦ Building Our Community: The Canberra Social Plan◦ ACT Mental Health Services Plan 2009-2014◦ Mental Health Promotion, Prevention and Early Intervention
Framework 2009-2014
Development of Strategy – Where does the Strategy fit
Reduces rates of suicide and self-harm in the ACT
Increase resilience, coping skills and connectedness
Improve awareness of and access to suicide prevention training, education and information
Increase collaboration and partnerships between organisations providing suicide prevention and postvention services in the ACT
Managing the Risk of Suicide
Improving the evidence base and understanding for suicide prevention
Building individual resilience and wellbeing Building community strength, resilience and
capacity in suicide prevention Taking a coordinated approach to suicide
prevention Providing targeted suicide prevention activities Implementing standards and quality in suicide
prevention
Six Action Areas
• Delivery of bereavement counselling• Implementation of an annual Men’s Mental
Health Conference• Development and Implementation of an
evaluation of Framework for the Strategy• Implementation of the Let’s Talk for Suicide
Prevention campaign
Key Achievements
Let’s Talk for Suicide Prevention
Raise awareness about suicide and suicide prevention for residents of the ACT
Provide information about where residents can obtain assistance about suicide risk and suicide prevention
Reduce the stigma associated with suicide
• rise awareness about male suicide• barriers to men accessing appropriate service• encourage services to enhance their capacity
to identify and address men’s mental health needs
• promote linkages between service delivers• up skill workers two forums have been run to date
Promoting Men’s Mental Health
Increased suicide prevention training in the AMC & Bimberi Youth Justice Centre:◦ Detainees◦ Corrections staff
• Suicide prevention training for indigenous communities, including:◦ Aboriginal Health Workers◦ Community members
Future Areas of Work