Community forum findings

In the second stage of the methodology, six community forums were conducted across major regional centres. An estimated total of 500 people engaged in the forums and provided their feedback on the current state of suicide prevention in their region, key needs/ gaps and future plans to reduce suicidality.

In addition to community and service providers, local mayors were also engaged to form partnerships and strengthen the community focus. Local Mayor Bruce Green had the following to say on suicide in their region:

“For many of us, suicide is too close to home. To understand, assist and receive practical information was valuable for me. All our community should talk about this.”

PORT LINCOLN MAYOR BRUCE GREEN

Each forum highlighted ideas and issues unique to their specific region and key themes were deliberated. For Port Lincoln, the key themes from the community forum were:

• Workforce development and upskilling • Afterhours support • Youth education and resilience building • Referral pathways and early intervention

Workforce capacity and upskilling

Workforce development and upskilling was identified as a priority for both the community and service providers in the region. Emphasis was placed on education and training for frontline workers and general practitioners (GPs) in assessment skills and use of suitable referral pathways. There was participant acknowledgement surrounding the high demand for GP services in regional areas and that introducing a model of stepped care could increase early prevention of mental health issues.

A unique priority was also raised surrounding the creation of a wellbeing committee which could educate people about recognising and responding to suicidality and supporting each other in critical events (e.g. drought, fire, accident, trauma). After-hours support

After-hours support and discharge planning were priorities for the Port Lincoln community. The community identified a lack of available information without a specialist appointment. Participants proposed exploring the implementation of an online portal in accompaniment to information packs being available 24/7 at emergency departments.

To improve current discharge planning procedures, it was suggested the whole family should be involved in the process, and not just the individual in crisis, to ensure supportive and inclusive environments are created. Furthermore, engagement with community and sporting groups to provide an additional level of support to community members was also encouraged by those present.

Youth education and resilience building

Youth mental health was also a priority area raised, particularly regarding education and resilience training. The incorporation of suicide prevention and mental health education into school curricula was suggested to reduce stigma and build resilience and was strongly supported within the community forums. Upskilling for school counsellors and teachers alike to recognise the signs of suicide and to respond accordingly was thought to also complement this process.

Referral pathways and early intervention

The community perceived a need for increased collaboration between services to streamline referrals, reduce waiting times and create a ‘no wrong door’ approach. The creation of an online portal to direct individuals to available services in their region was discussed to meet this requirement in accompaniment to information packs being available 24/7 at emergency departments.

Furthermore, the implementation of a stepped care model with a person-centred approach, aiming to increase early intervention and prevention of mental health issues was suggested to improve the current referral issues.

Discussion

Upon the completion of the community forums and the closure of the online survey, data was analysed and compared to highlight consistent themes in the needs and gaps identified within Port Lincoln. Generally, the key issues and trends for the community were prevalent in both the forum and survey with limited differences noted.

There was a strong focus on upskilling and workforce development, particularly around the youth sector in Port Lincoln. Furthermore, incorporation of suicide prevention and mental health education into school curricula was encouraged through both the survey and forum. Referral pathways and early intervention were also key themes consistent across data collection methods. On review, while services are available in the region, the promotion of such services and awareness of their reach is lacking for both community members and service providers alike.

A point unique to follow-up care in Port Lincoln was the need for services to extend beyond usual operating hours and create adequate after-hours services. While this issue was raised in other regions, it was a particular priority for Port Lincoln.

On reviewing the predominant needs and gaps identified in the forums and survey, an underlying need for upskilling and service coordination was evident. Overall, the findings from the community forums aligned with the online survey findings from the Country North region as a whole, with the key gaps highlighted being follow-up care, stigma around suicide, suicide prevention, training opportunities and workforce collaboration.

The key gaps identified within suicide prevention for the Port Lincoln community were:

Workforce development and upskilling

Afterhours support

Youth education and resilience building

Referral Pathways and early intervention