COMMUNITY SUICIDE PREVENTION ACTION PLANNING RESOURCE FOR GIPPSLAND Building a
Community Safety Net
that Helps Prevent Suicide
COMMUNITY SUICIDE PREVENTION ACTION PLANNING RESOURCE FOR GIPPSLAND
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The Place-Based Suicide Prevention Trials project is funded jointly by the Victorian Department of Health and Gippsland PHN to work with communities to contribute to the reduction of the suicide rate within the Latrobe Valley and Bass Coast/South Gippsland. For more information visit https://gphn.org.au/what-we-do/programs/ suicide-prevention-program/
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COMMUNITY SUICIDE PREVENTION ACTION PLANNING RESOURCE FOR GIPPSLAND
Contents Background 4 Setting
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Community Suicide Prevention Consultation 2021
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Community Suicide Prevention Action Plan
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The Four Safety Net Elements
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Safety Net Elements and Goals
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Element 1: Connecting with trusted support services
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Element 2: Promoting help-seeking behaviours
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Element 3: Training community gatekeepers
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Element 4: Communicating safely about suicide
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Community Suicide Prevention Action Plan Template: Element 1
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Community Suicide Prevention Action Plan Template: Element 2
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Community Suicide Prevention Action Plan Template: Element 3
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Community Suicide Prevention Action Plan Template: Element 4
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Resources 34 Acknowledgements
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Background
What have we done so far to help prevent suicide? Gippsland Primary Health Network (GPHN) is working on the PlaceBased Suicide Prevention Trials (PBSPT) project, coordinating local suicide prevention activities in the Bass Coast / South Gippsland area and Latrobe Valley.
A place-based approach?
Since 2016, we have been working with local organisations to deliver projects and activities, using a place-based approach. A place-based approach recognises that the places where people live and spend their time can affect their health and wellbeing.
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COMMUNITY SUICIDE PREVENTION ACTION PLANNING RESOURCE FOR GIPPSLAND
What is the aim of the PBSPT project? The aim of the PBSPT is to build a community safety net where people work together to prevent suicide and support people in crisis. The PBSPT project is finishing in June 2022, so a shared, community-led action plan has been developed to continue the suicide prevention activities across Gippsland. This work will be led by and for the community: “nothing about us without us”. Together, we aim to build a community safety net that helps prevent suicide.
The LifeSpan Model The PBSPT project is guided by the evidence-based Black Dog Institute’s LifeSpan model for suicide prevention.
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Setting What we know about suicide
The impact of a suicide has a profound effect on families, friends and communities. In Victoria, in 2019 the number of suicides was more than twice the number of road accident deaths: 718 lives lost to suicide and 266 lost on the roadsi.
Information we have about suicide in Gippsland shows that:
Most people who die by suicide are men.
i. Coroners Court of Victoria, Monthly Suicide Data Report: January 2021 p.3. Transport Accident Commission, Search statistics, http://www.tac.vic.gov.au/road-safety/statistics/ lives-lost-annual accessed 23/10/2021. ii. Examples of treatment include: General Practitioner, mental health practitioner, Alcohol and Other Drug treatment service, admission to an acute psychiatric ward.
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COMMUNITY SUICIDE PREVENTION ACTION PLANNING RESOURCE FOR GIPPSLAND
Most people who die by suicide are over the age of 35.
About one third to one half of all people who die by suicide seek treatment ii.
By working together, we can build a community safety net that helps prevent suicide.
About one third of people who die by suicide had been engaged with specialist mental health services
Many people express their intentions (directly and/or indirectly) before they suicide.
Most people die at their usual place of residence.
Suicide risk is higher for people who have experienced trauma and /or marginalisation.
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Community Suicide Prevention Consultation 2021 What we did
Reviewed local suicide information and data.
Identified existing suicide prevention activities and resources.
Listened to the ideas and experiences of local people and services.
Suicide Prevention Priorities Workshop Key organisations involved in suicide prevention in Gippsland participated in a strategic planning workshop and developed a Suicide Prevention Priorities Framework which outlines four suicide prevention priority areas for Gippsland and key indicators for success.
Who was involved?
The agencies involved were: • Gippsland Primary Health Network • Jesuit Social Services • Latrobe Regional Hospital • Lifeline Gippsland • Wellways Australia • Victorian Department of Health
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COMMUNITY SUICIDE PREVENTION ACTION PLANNING RESOURCE FOR GIPPSLAND
Suicide Prevention Priorities
Four priorities were collaboratively developed: 1. Services are inclusive and accessible, especially for people who are in most need. 2. Primary health workers (e.g., GP’s, Allied Health) support people and refer to appropriate services. 3. People with a lived experience of suicide are supported to tell their stories safely and contribute to building the community safety net. 4. Communication about suicide and accidental death is safe.
Developed shared suicide prevention goals and activities.
Published the community suicide prevention action planning resource for Gippsland.
Action Planning Workshops
Review of suicide prevention frameworks by others
Who was involved?
Australian & Victorian frameworks
A range of people from the community, including people with a lived experience of suicide, gatekeepers and key influencers, community groups, and organisations shared their thoughts and ideas. • Gatekeepers are community members who have done suicide prevention training who may have contact with people who are experiencing suicidal thinking or behaviour. • Key influencers are people, groups, or organisations that already have relationships with and the attention of people in the community. All those involved are recognised as having an important role in building the suicide prevention safety net. A full list of contributors can be found on page 36.
We also took into account the Victorian and Australian frameworks for suicide prevention including: • Victorian Suicide Prevention Framework 2016 - 2025 • National Suicide Prevention Strategy • National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Strategy
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Community Suicide Prevention Action Plan Building a Community Safety Net that Helps Prevent Suicide This Community Suicide Prevention Action Planning Resource outlines how community members, gatekeepers, key influencers, local community groups and organisations can work together to build a community safety net that helps prevent suicide across Gippsland.
What is community suicide prevention? The community is an important setting for suicide prevention. A wide variety of community groups and organisations, including schools, after-school programs, health care providers, workplaces, and places of worship, can all work together to carry out prevention activities that reflect local needs and resources.
What is a community safety net for suicide prevention? Building a community safety net involves: • Linking and coordinating suicide prevention activities. • Developing the ability of the community to better support people facing a suicide crisis.
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COMMUNITY SUICIDE PREVENTION ACTION PLANNING RESOURCE FOR GIPPSLAND
Key Elements of the Community Safety Net for Suicide Prevention Connecting with trusted support services Raising awareness of reputable support services for people experiencing suicidal thoughts; suicide bereavement or significant life challenges.
Communicating safely about suicide Communicating safely about suicide and suicide deaths in the community and responding to unsafe conversations and media coverage.
Promoting help-seeking behaviours Promoting help seeking behaviour especially in young people and men.
Training community gate-keepers Training community gatekeepers to identify, respond and support people who are having thoughts of suicide or are at risk due to significant life challenges. COMMUNITY SUICIDE PREVENTION ACTION PLANNING RESOURCE FOR GIPPSLAND
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The Four Safety Net Elements and shared Suicide Prevention Goals
Connecting with trusted support services
Promoting help-seeking behaviours
Raising awareness of reputable support services for people experiencing suicidal thoughts; suicide bereavement or significant life challenges.
Promoting help seeking behaviour especially in young people and men.
Suicide Prevention Goal 1
Suicide Prevention Goal 2
Everyone in the community is aware of the range of reputable suicide and wellbeing supports available and can access inclusive care (and support) that meets their needs when they need it most.
Everyone understands and accepts the importance of seeking help when they need it and knows how to access the right support at the right time. Suicide Prevention Goal 3 Young people and men can identify when they need support and feel empowered to seek help.
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COMMUNITY SUICIDE PREVENTION ACTION PLANNING RESOURCE FOR GIPPSLAND
Training community gate-keepers
Communicating safely about suicide
Training community gatekeepers to identify, respond and support people who are having thoughts of suicide or are at risk due to significant life challenges.
Communicating safely about suicide and suicide deaths in the community and responding to unsafe conversations and media coverage.
Suicide Prevention Goal 4
Suicide Prevention Goal 6
Everyone in the community is supported by others who are confident and competent to identify, support and respond to people having suicidal thoughts and or are at risk whether at home, work or in the community.
Our communities (including the local media) have the tools and knowledge to communicate safely about suicide in various contexts and respond to suicide when it happens in a safe and supportive way.
Suicide Prevention Goal 5 There is a sustainable, coordinated, community led approach to identifying, training and supporting community gatekeepers.
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Connecting with trusted support services Goal
1
Everyone in the community is aware of the range of reputable suicide and wellbeing supports available and can access inclusive care (and support) that meets their needs when they need it most.
What’s happening in Gippsland?
Actions
A
Raise awareness of relevant support services and resources* including: Beyond Blue Suicide Resource Kids Helpline Lifeline Gippsland Mens Line Suicide Call Back Service Support After Suicide Yarning SafeNStrong A1. Lifeline are monitoring and updating the Gippsland Mental Health - Support Directory. The website is mobile friendly and includes a feedback and suggestion form. A2. Gippsland PHN will continue to update the Suicide Prevention page of their website and include new resources as they become available. For more info: Suicide Prevention Resources – Gippsland 2021 A3. Support After Suicide services are provided by Jesuit Social Services for anyone in Gippsland bereaved by a suicude death.
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Goals and actions B Identify and train gatekeepers who represent the diversity of our communities and can raise awareness of suicide prevention. LGBTQI+ people Aboriginal people People from CALD and refugee backgrounds People living with disabilities B1. Wellways provide people with lived experience of suicide, training to safely share their story, support and networking through a facilitated peer support group: The Lived Experience Workforce Project. Contact Wellways Gippsland branches for more information. B2. Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) online learning module. QPR aims to save lives by providing innovative, practical and proven suicide prevention training, empowering all people to make a positive difference. Anyone can do this 90-minute, self-paced online course from home. All people living, working or studying in Gippsland are eligible for free registration via Gippsland PHN’s suicide prevention program.
What does reputable really mean? Organisations that receive state government or PHN funding and employ suitably qualified mental health professionals such as psychologists, social workers and counsellors or trained and supervised volunteers. Avoid individuals or organisations sponsored by private companies only; consist of unqualified or under qualified staff or untrained volunteers (lived experience alone is not enough); deliver unevaluated programs and may charge a lot for their services or rely heavily on fundraising through merchandising.
C
D
Promote positive stories from people with lived experience to help address barriers to accessing services.
Raise awareness of suicide prevention by utilising existing campaigns and value adding to annual events such as World Mental Health Day and IDAHOBIT.
C1. Stories are Strong campaign was developed through interviews with people with a lived experience of suicide and experts in the field. There are 14 stories of hope and inspiration that celebrate resilience and strength in our communities plus four fact sheets with hints and tips for positive mental health.
D1. Wellways provide people with lived experience of suicide, training to safely share their story, support and networking through a facilitated peer support group: The Lived Experience Workforce Project. Contact Wellways Gippsland branches for more information.
#storiesrstrong
D2. Lifeline Gippsland promote positive suicide prevention activities and campaigning to support or become involved in.
* A full resource list can be found on pages 34 to 35.
D4. Check out the Stories Are Strong Campaign inclusive events to celebrate and acknowledge our diverse community.
What’s happening in Gippsland?
D3. Wellways Australia promote positive suicide prevention activities and campaigning to support or become involved in.
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Connecting with trusted support services
Recommended activities
Organisations including local councils, health services and schools • Include links to support services and resources on your website. • Identify who in your organisation can take on a suicide prevention role/portfolio. • Include support services information and resources in your organisation’s induction program. • Include support services information and resources in your existing “awareness day” activities e.g. IDAHOBIT. • Actively provide welcoming and inclusive services and environments for men, young people and people from diverse communities.
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COMMUNITY SUICIDE PREVENTION ACTION PLANNING RESOURCE FOR GIPPSLAND
• Check out The Human Code to identify ways to support men experiencing life challenges. • Contact Rainbow Health for LGBTIQ inclusive practice training. • Visit Orygen for the best practices for supporting young people • Develop your own Community Suicide Prevention Action Plan using the template on pages 30 to 34 or use the downloadable templates.
What can I do? Community Groups including sports clubs, neighbourhood houses, volunteer led groups • Include links to support services and resources on your Facebook page / website. • Identify who in your community group or club is a potential gatekeeper and can do training. • Promote the Stories are Strong articles to members. • Develop your own Community Suicide Prevention Action Plan using the templates on pages 30 to 34 or use the downloadable templates.
Individuals
Keep up to date with suicide prevention information via Gippsland PHN’s suicide prevention pages.
• If you have lived experience of suicide (attempt or bereavement), consider becoming a lived experience speaker. Wellways train and support people to tell their story in a way that empowers those around them with a focus on hope and recovery. Sharing your story can provide you with a sense of purpose and drive for the future. • Participate in community gatekeeper training. • Participate in co-design of culturally safe gatekeeper training – contact Wellways and Jesuit Social Services. • Read the Stories Are Strong articles and share them with friends and family.
To participate in community gatekeeper training, contact:
• Share information about support services and resources via social media.
Wellways, Lineline, Latrobe Regional Hospital, Jesuit Social Services or Gippsland PHN for workshop opportunities. COMMUNITY SUICIDE PREVENTION ACTION PLANNING RESOURCE FOR GIPPSLAND
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Promoting help-seeking behaviours Goal
2
Everyone understands and accepts the importance of seeking help when they need it and knows how to access the right support at the right time.
Actions
A
Utilise relevant and relatable information to promote help seeking for identified groups within the community.
A1. Youth Life4Life
What’s happening in Gippsland?
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Goals and actions
An evidence based sustainable suicide prevention model for rural and regional secondary schools. Involves Youth Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) and Teen MHFA training and uses a health promotion and community development model to build capacity within schools, students, teachers and parents to improve youth mental health and reduce youth suicide.
COMMUNITY SUICIDE PREVENTION ACTION PLANNING RESOURCE FOR GIPPSLAND
A2. Local Men Local Communities Project (South Gippsland). Providing suicide prevention and postvention primarily through social impact including increased knowledge, confidence and connection within the local community setting for community group members and individual men aged 25+.
Goal
3
Young people and men can identify when they need support and feel empowered to seek help.
Actions
A
Promote suicide prevention and help seeking in places frequented by young people and men.
A1. Project proposals for Suicide Prevention for Men: Priority area for the suicide prevention place based trials: community led projects that focus on suicide prevention activities for men. Projects would involve groups that men are members of groups such as sporting clubs and men’s sheds. Activities would include: identifying and training local champions as mentors and influencers, modelling behaviours that keep men healthy, connected and mentally well; promoting male friendly positive coping strategies and help seeking.
* A full resource list can be found on pages 34 to 35.
A2. Beyond Blue Men provides online resources for looking after men’s mental health and wellbeing.
What’s happening in Gippsland?
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Promoting help-seeking behaviours
Recommended activities
Organisations including local councils, health services and schools • Consult with existing stakeholder groups to identify their needs.
• Read the Local Men Local Communities Project evaluation and implement relevant recommendations.
• Co-design information with stakeholder groups to ensure programs are relevant and addressing identified needs.
• Contribute to relevant local postvention and prevention protocols.
• Review how men and young people engage with your organisation and promote suicide prevention and help seeking at these points. • Look up how to support men to look after their mental health using a strength based approach. • Normalise help seeking behaviour through language use and role modelling behaviour.
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COMMUNITY SUICIDE PREVENTION ACTION PLANNING RESOURCE FOR GIPPSLAND
• Access training opportunities through Gippsland PHN events calendar, Wellways and Mental Health Frist Aid. • Contact the Suicide Prevention Coordinators at Gippsland PHN or Wellways for support and guidance to develop suicide prevention activities for men. • Develop your own Community Suicide Prevention Action Plan using the template on pages 30 to 34 or use the downloadable template
What can I do? Community Groups including sports clubs, neighbourhood houses, volunteer led groups • Review how men and young people engage with your club, group or service and promote suicide prevention and help seeking at these points. • Look up how to support men to look after their mental health using a strength based approach • Normalise help seeking behaviour through language use and role modelling behaviour.
Individuals • Look up information on how to look after your mental health and wellbeing • Develop a good mental health toolbox which includes positive coping strategies and safety planning if need be. • Share tips and hints with your friends and family about looking after their mental health and wellbeing
• Contact the Suicide Prevention Coordinators at Gippsland PHN or Wellways for support and guidance to develop suicide prevention activities for men
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Training community gate-keepers Goal
4
Everyone in the community is supported by others who are confident and competent to identify, support and respond to people having suicidal thoughts or are at risk whether at home, work or in the community.
What’s happening in Gippsland?
Actions
A
Encourage gatekeepers and key influencers to recognise the role they play in suicide prevention and equip them with the skills to respond to community need.
A1. Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) courses are based on evidence of what is best practice mental health first aid to support someone who has a mental health problem or is experiencing a mental health crisis. A2. Safety and Suicide Prevention Training for Mental Health Clinicians are face to face workshops delivered by Latrobe Regional Hospital across Gippsland. A3. On-going training opportunities A range of ongoing education and training opportunities are offered by GPHN via their events calendar.
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Goals and actions
COMMUNITY SUICIDE PREVENTION ACTION PLANNING RESOURCE FOR GIPPSLAND
To participate in community gatekeeper training, contact: Wellways, Lineline, Latrobe Regional Hospital, Jesuit Social Services or Gippsland PHN for workshop opportunities.
Who are gatekeepers? Gatekeepers are community members who have done suicide prevention training who may have contact with people who are experiencing suicidal thinking or behaviour.
Who are key influencers?
Key influencers are people, groups, or organisations that already have relationships with and the attention of people in the community. Gatekeepers and key influencers are recognised as having an important role in building the suicide prevention safety net.
Goal
5
There is a sustainable, coordinated, community led approach to identifying, training, and supporting community gatekeepers.
Want to submit an EOI for the Suicide Prevention Network? Contact: helen.page@gphn.org.au
What’s happening in Gippsland?
Actions
A
Develop a sustainable model for identifying, training, and supporting gatekeepers and key influencers.
A1. NEW and in-progress: Development of a Suicide Prevention Network for Gippsland. A forum where people can network, share resources and information, access training opportunities and best practice case studies. A2. Blackdog Suicide Prevention Network A network designed to connect professionals working in suicide prevention across Australia (subscription based). A3. Wesley Lifeforce Local suicide prevention networks throughout Gippsland.
* A full resource list can be found on pages 34 to 35.
A4. Suicide Prevention Australia A member-based organisation including organisations working in suicide prevention, practitioners, researchers and community leaders. Provides members with information and networking opportunities on a regular basis. A5. National Suicide Prevention Conference 2023 Provides a gateway to unite suicide prevention experts to showcase evidence-based solutions and robust discussion, focused on solutions for saving lives.
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Training community gate-keepers
Recommended activities
Organisations including local councils, health services and schools • Facilitate community groups and/or members access to online courses and provide free venues for training.
• Participate in the development of local suicide prevention networks and working groups.
• Identify potential gatekeepers and promote the Gippsland Suicide Prevention Network and resources to them.
• Identify opportunities to learn more about preventing suicide from experts in the field.
• Encourage staff / volunteers to access the annual training calendar provided by GPHN and others. • Encourage peer support for gatekeepers and key influencers via the Suicide Prevention Network online portal, to foster their own safety and wellbeing. • Become a member of peak body Australian suicide prevention networks and organisations.
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What can I do? Community Groups including sports clubs, neighbourhood houses, volunteer led groups • Facilitate groups and/or members access to online courses and provide free venues for training. • Promote suicide awareness with members. • Identify potential gatekeepers and promote the Gippsland Suicide Prevention Network and resources to them. • Encourage gatekeepers and key influencers to submit an EOI for the Suicide Prevention Network to foster their own safety and wellbeing.
Individuals • Think about your role – are you a potential gatekeeper? Gatekeepers are community members who have done suicide prevention training who may have contact with people who are experiencing suicidal thinking or behaviour. • If you have a lived experience of suicide, consider joining the Wellways Peer Support Group and asking about Stories For Change lived experience speaker training. • Do suicide prevention training and join an online support community though the Suicide Prevention Network online portal. • Share tips and hints with your friends and family about looking after their mental health and wellbeing. • If you are bereaved by suicide, get support and information from Support After Suicide.
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Communicating safely about suicide Goal
6
Our communities (including the local media) have the tools and knowledge to communicate safely about suicide in various contexts and respond to suicide when it happens in a safe and supportive way.
What’s happening in Gippsland?
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Actions
Goals and actions
A
B
Develop local capacity to communicate safety about suicide.
Build community capacity to recognise unsafe communication and respond in a proactive manner.
A1. Priority area for the suicide prevention place based trials: community led projects that focus on developing local agreements for safe communication about suicide and media reporting. Activities would involve the co-design of agreements and resources with local media and key influencers, based on best practice MindFrame Guidelines.
COMMUNITY SUICIDE PREVENTION ACTION PLANNING RESOURCE FOR GIPPSLAND
B1. Mindframe’s safe language guide was developed to support anyone communicating about suicide to the public to minimise risks on vulnerable audiences. The guide highlights phrases and language, which may be problematic, especially in perpetuating negative stereotypes.
C Establish a local collaborative suicide response group, with agreed roles & responsibilities.
C1. Conversations Matter is a practical online resource to support safe and effective community discussions about suicide. Also provides resources to support conversations with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse and Aboriginal communities.
D Develop standards for suicide awareness speakers and publish a list of approved/ reputable speakers on the Gippsland Mental Health Directory and Suicide Prevention Network Portal.
* A full resource list can be found on pages 34 to 35.
D1. Preventing the Social Transmission of Suicidal Behaviours The social transmission of suicidal behaviours (also called contagion) occurs directly (via contact or friendship) or indirectly (via word of mouth or media). Though uncommon, suicide clusters can result. Clusters involve multiple suicides which occur closer in time or place than would normally be expected. Not all involve social links between cluster members, and they are more likely in communities (place-based, interest-based, circumstance-based, or virtual) where a number of underlying risk factors are already present. These factors can include things like exposure to sudden, multiple and unexpected accidental deaths (such as car accidents), sudden increases in unemployment, or being in an isolated, remote and/or sparsely populated place. Indirectly transmitted clusters can occur from the broadcast or publishing of actual or fictional suicides. Media and other organisations who interact with and influence communities can play a key role in both preventing and responding to suicide clusters.
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Communicating safely about suicide
Recommended activities
Organisations including local councils, health services and schools • Encourage staff to participate in the Gippsland Suicide Prevention Network.
• If you are a signatory to the safe communication agreement, adhere to the agreement.
• Provide a link to Suicide Prevention Resources – Gippsland 2021 on your organisations’ website.
• Develop and distribute a clear protocol and reference resources for safe communication when a person dies by suicide.
• Contact the Suicide Prevention Coordinators at Gippsland PHN for support and guidance to develop local agreements for safe communication about suicide.
• If you see unsafe communication about suicide, redirect to promoting help seeking behaviour and support services.
• Embed safe communications within your organisations’ practices and when a suicide occurs follow guidelines for Preventing the Social Transmission of Suicidal Behaviours. • Access safe communication about suicide training.
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COMMUNITY SUICIDE PREVENTION ACTION PLANNING RESOURCE FOR GIPPSLAND
• If employees or students are bereaved by suicide, check out Conversations Matter for information on how to talk to people about suicide. • Ensure any suicide awareness speakers contracted by your organisation are appropriately trained and reputable.
What can I do? Community Groups including sports clubs, neighbourhood houses, volunteer led groups • Encourage members to submit an EOI for the Gippsland Suicide Prevention Network. • Provide a link to Suicide Prevention Resources on your groups’ website or social media pages. • Follow safe communications guidelines if there is a suicide within your club or group.
Individuals • Look up what is safe and unsafe communication about suicide and put this into practice. • If you see unsafe communication about suicide, redirect to promoting help seeking behaviour and support services. • If you or friends / family members are bereaved by suicide, check out Conversations Matter for information on how to talk to people about suicide.
• Ensure any suicide awareness speakers contracted by your club or group are appropriately trained and reputable. • If you see unsafe communication about suicide, redirect to promoting help seeking behaviour and support services. • If one of your members are bereaved by suicide, check out Conversations Matter for information on how to talk to people about suicide.
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Connecting with trusted support services
Community Action Plan Template
Raising awareness of reputable support services for people experiencing suicidal thoughts; suicide bereavement or significant life challenges. Identified ACTION PLAN GOALS for Gippsland
OUR ACTIONS
OUR ACTIVITIES
1. Everyone in the community is aware of the range of reputable suicide and wellbeing supports available and can access inclusive care (and support) that meets their needs when they need it most.
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COMMUNITY SUICIDE PREVENTION ACTION PLANNING RESOURCE FOR GIPPSLAND
Who’s responsible
Started
In progress
Complete
Promoting help-seeking behaviour
Community Action Plan Template 4
Promoting help seeking behaviour especially in young people and men.
Identified ACTION PLAN GOALS for Gippsland
OUR ACTIONS
OUR ACTIVITIES
Who’s responsible
Started
In progress
Complete
2. Everyone understands and accepts the importance of seeking help when they need it and knows how to access the right support at the right time.
3. Young people and men can identify when they need support and feel empowered to seek help.
COMMUNITY SUICIDE PREVENTION ACTION PLANNING RESOURCE FOR GIPPSLAND
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3
Training community gate-keepers
Community Action Plan Template
Training community gatekeepers to identify, respond and support people who are having thoughts of suicide or are at risk due to significant life challenges. Identified ACTION PLAN GOALS for Gippsland
OUR ACTIONS
OUR ACTIVITIES
4. Everyone in the community is supported by others who are confident and competent to identify, support and respond to people having suicidal thoughts or are at risk whether at home, work or in the community. 5. There is a sustainable, coordinated, community led approach to identifying, training and supporting community gatekeepers.
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COMMUNITY SUICIDE PREVENTION ACTION PLANNING RESOURCE FOR GIPPSLAND
Who’s responsible
Started
In progress
Complete
Communicating safely about suicide
Community Action Plan Template4
Communicating safely about suicide and suicide deaths in the community and responding to unsafe conversations and media coverage. Identified ACTION PLAN GOALS for Gippsland
OUR ACTIONS
OUR ACTIVITIES
Who’s responsible
Started
In progress
Complete
6. Our communities (including the local media) have the tools and knowledge to communicate safely about suicide in various contexts and respond to suicide when it happens in a safe and supportive way.
COMMUNITY SUICIDE PREVENTION ACTION PLANNING RESOURCE FOR GIPPSLAND
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Resources General Resources & Crisis Lines
Telephone/Email
Beyond Blue Suicide Resources
Provides information for people bereaved by suicide, those concerned about a friend or family member, or anyone who may be suicidal
1300 22 4636 (24/7)
Gippsland Mental Health – Support Directory
Provides links to trusted services, to help navigate mental health challenges and get the support needed.
13 11 14 (Lifeline 24/7)
Gippsland PHN Suicide Prevention Page
Gippsland PHN will continue to update the Suicide Prevention page of their website and include new resources as they become available.
0351 755 444 (BH)
Head2Help
Can help people find the best mental health support by asking questions to find out what support might be best for the person and connecting them with that support.
1800 595 212 (24/7)
Lifeline Gippsland
Offers telephone crisis support, a suicide prevention program and depression support, and has training and volunteer opportunities.
13 11 14 (24/7)
New Access
A free mental health coaching program for anyone who feels stressed, anxious or overwhelmed.
RUOK
A suicide prevention charity, encouraging all of us to notice the signs of mental health struggle in friends, family, and colleagues.
Suicide Call Back Service
Provides free counselling for suicide prevention & mental health via telephone, online & video for anyone affected by suicidal thoughts, 24/7.
1300 111 400 (BH)
1300 659 467 (24/7)
Suicide Prevention Resources – Gippsland
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COMMUNITY SUICIDE PREVENTION ACTION PLANNING RESOURCE FOR GIPPSLAND
For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders
Telephone/Email
Manual of Resources for Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention
A collection of practical resources and tools that people, both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous, can use to make a real difference in promoting positive mental health and social emotional wellbeing, and preventing suicide in our communities.
Yarning SafeNStrong
A free and confidential counselling service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. Yarning SafeNStrong is available to people and families who need to have a yarn with someone about their wellbeing.
1800 959 563 (24/7)
A free specialist LGBTIQA+ helpline providing information, support, and referral to all LGBTIQA+ Victorians, their friends and family.
1800 729 367 (BH)
Beyond Blue - Men
Provides information for people bereaved by suicide, those concerned about a friend or family member, or anyone who may be suicidal.
1300 22 4636 (24/7)
Local Men Local Communities Project
Connects men 25+ living in Gippsland to community groups, training and events focussed on suicide prevention and postvention.
0356 62 9200
MensLine
A telephone and online counselling service offering support for Australian men anywhere, anytime.
1300 78 99 78 (24/7)
For LGBTIQA+ people Rainbow Door
For Men
For Young People
Telephone/Email
Headspace
A one stop shop for young people (aged 12 to 25) who need help with mental health, physical health, alcohol and other drugs.
Kids Helpline
A free Australian telephone and online counselling service for young people aged between 5 and 25.
1800 55 1800 (24/7)
Education and Training Gatekeeper Training
1300 111 400
GPHN Events Calendar
0351 755 444
Mental Health First Aid
03 9079 0200
Live4Life
Helps rural and regional communities to implement Live4Life, a mental health education and youth suicide prevention model.
Safety and Suicide Prevention Training for Mental Health Clinicians
Reach Out
Links young people and their parents to trusted mental health resources.
Networks
Provides online resources and free individual and family counselling to people bereaved by suicide.
Communication and Media Resources MindFrame Guidelines
02 4924 6900
Safe Language Guide
02 4924 6900
Preventing the Social Transmission of Suicidal Behaviours Conversations Matter
events@gphn.org.au
Gippsland Suicide Prevention Network
Bereavement / After Suicide Support After Suicide
Telephone/Email
Blackdog Suicide Prevention Network
02 9382 2991
Suicide Prevention Australia (including National Conference)
02 9262 1130
Wesley Lifeforce
1800 100 024
Strategies and Frameworks Gippsland Suicide Prevention Priorities Paper Victorian Suicide Prevention Framework 2016 - 2025
02 4924 6900
National Suicide Prevention Strategy
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Acknowledgements This action plan reflects the generosity of community members; community groups; health services and organisations; local and state government representatives in coming together to listen, learn, share ideas work together to build a community suicide prevention safety net for the people of Gippsland. Gippsland PHN would like to acknowledge their goodwill, energy and effort in participating in workshops and contributing to the development of this document.
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Bass Coast Health
Bass Coast Shire Council
Country Fire Authority
Department of Education and Training
Federation University Australia
Gippsland Centre Against Sexual Assault
Gippsland Primary Health Network
Gippsland Southern Health Service
Headspace Gippsland
Lakes Entrance Aboriginal Health Association
Latrobe City Council
Latrobe Community Health Service
Latrobe Health Advocate
Latrobe Health Assembly
Latrobe Regional Hospital
Latrobe Valley Authority
LGBTIQ+ community representatives
Lifeline Gippsland
Milpara Community House
Phillip Island Community and Learning Centre Inc. (PICAL)
Phillip Island RSL Sub Branch
Rural Financial Gippsland
South Gippsland Shire Council
Victoria Police
Wellways Australia
Wellways Peer Workforce representatives
COMMUNITY SUICIDE PREVENTION ACTION PLANNING RESOURCE FOR GIPPSLAND
COMMUNITY SUICIDE PREVENTION ACTION PLANNING RESOURCE FOR GIPPSLAND
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COMMUNITY SUICIDE PREVENTION ACTION PLANNING RESOURCE FOR GIPPSLAND