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Element 4: 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.
Actions
A
Develop local capacity to communicate safety about suicide.
What’s happening in Gippsland?
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.
B
Build community capacity to recognise unsafe communication and respond in a proactive manner.
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. 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.
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.
Organisations including local councils, health services and schools
• Encourage staff to participate in the Gippsland Suicide
Prevention Network. • Provide a link to Suicide Prevention Resources – Gippsland 2021 on your organisations’ website. • Contact the Suicide Prevention Coordinators at Gippsland
PHN for support and guidance to develop local agreements for safe communication about suicide. • 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. • If you are a signatory to the safe communication agreement, adhere to the agreement. • Develop and distribute a clear protocol and reference resources for safe communication when a person dies by suicide. • If you see unsafe communication about suicide, redirect to promoting help seeking behaviour and support services. • 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. • 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.
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.
