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Key recommendations
The themes and priorities identified through the consultation process were used to form recommendations to improve suicide prevention within each community and the region as a whole. The interventions and/or programs recommended were in turn aligned with the LifeSpan model and the nine evidence-based strategies. These strategies are based on the most up-to-date evidence drawn from large scale suicide prevention programs overseas that have shown positive results. The LifeSpan wheel and strategies are shown below.
a d a p t a ti o n d n a p i h o w n e r s L o c a l D a t a - d r i v e n d e c i s i o n - m a k i n g
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Improving safety and reducing access to means of suicide
W o r k f o r c e i n f o r m a ti o n a n d d e v e l o p m e n t Improving emergency and follow-up care for suicidal crisis Using evidence-based treatment for suicidality
Encouraging safe and purposeful media reporting
Engaging the community and providing opportunities to be part of the change
Building a community safety net that helps prevent suicide
Equipping primary care to identify and support people in distress
Improving the competency and confidence of frontline workers to deal with suicidal crisis
Training the community to recognise and respond to suicidality
C o m m u n i t y e n g a g e m e n t
Promoting help-seeking, mental health and resilience C u l t u r a l g o v e r n a n c e a n d i n c l u s i o n in schools
L i v e d e x p e r i e n c e i n c l u s i o n a t e v e r y l e v e l
The recommendations for Port Pirie were:
• Implement a dedicated aftercare service, providing follow-up care for individuals who have made a suicide attempt, including providing continuity of care, coordination across services and follow-up. • Provide locally developed resource packs to patients, family and carers who have been in contact with crisis care. • Implement best practice care guidelines within the emergency departments and deliver training to emergency department staff.
Using evidence-based treatment for suicidality
• Improve information sharing between services, families and carers. • Encourage the use of Telehealth and e-Mental Health tools. • Deliver Advanced Training in Suicide Prevention (ATSP) to health clinicians.
• Provide further training opportunities for GPs and practice staff. • Establish clear referral mechanisms in the community. • Equip practices with a ‘StepCare’ platform that allows GPs to easily identify patients in need of support and tailor a treatment plan that is right for them. • Implement improved consent tools to enable better sharing of information between health services, as well as other support networks (e.g. family and friends).
• Develop a common appropriate language across agencies and sectors. • Provide targeted education and training for Accident and Emergency staff to refresh or upskill their ability to support the community. • Enhance information sharing which focuses on suicidal crisis and responses, including real time electronic data collection by these agencies to report and measure the level of suicidal crisis in the community.
• Encourage the delivery of the Youth Aware of Mental Health (YAM) program, promoting help-seeking and resilience in high school students.
• Create awareness of bulling through social media platforms and active strategies that reduce and or eliminate bullying from schools.
• Provide suicide prevention training to all education staff.
• Raise awareness across community of what to do in a crisis, referrals and service access points. • Implement Question. Persuade. Refer. (QPR) targeting community members and health professionals alike. • Develop a local resource that provides a greater level of knowledge and information referral pathways.
• Establishment of a suicide prevention network in Port Pirie. • Targeted engagement with key stakeholders through training and information, encouraging positive change. • Proactive use of social media to engage and inform the community. • Ensure information about support services and programs are accessible and visible in the local community 24/7. • Develop posters on local service options that are visible and accessible across the community.
Encouraging safe and purposeful media reporting
• Conduct Mindframe training for media and key spokespeople, including mayors, politicians and others. • Encourage proactive use of media to ensure promotion of support and resources.
• Remain vigilant about emerging trends in means . • Implement real time electronic data collection by agencies to report and measure the level of suicidal crisis in the community.
