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. Fraser Ellis MP had the following to say on suicide in the region:

“Suicide in country areas impacts the whole community, but thankfully the Yorke Peninsula community wants to play a role in recognising risk and supporting those who are struggling. I found the information and round table discussion both enlightening and a call to action and have since followed closely the activities of the two Suicide Prevention Networks that are doing such great work in the Narungga electorate – the Yorkes SOS group and the Copper Coast SOS network.” FRASER ELLIS MP

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

• Workforce development and upskilling • Follow-up care and discharge planning • Youth education and resilience building • Referral pathways and early intervention

Workforce development and upskilling

The need for upskilling and suicide prevention training for frontline workers, allied health professionals and GPs was a key priority highlighted in the Yorke Peninsula community.

Suggestions were made for new targeted education focussed on improving assessment skills, referrals and recognising the signs of suicidality for GPs and first responders alike. To aid GPs in this process, the community were receptive to trialling the ‘StepCare’ platform allowing GPs to identify patients in need of support and tailor a treatment plan specialised to them without extending consultation times.

The community had a range of ideas regarding how to improve service gaps within their region, one of which being workforce development and multidisciplinary forums. These opportunities were perceived to encourage services to collaborate, upskill and create awareness of what is available within their region.

The upskilling of youth workers, teachers, school counsellors and school aged children was reiterated throughout the forum, where participants believed additional training such as YAM could be beneficial and help reduce the stigma around suicide and mental health in general.

Follow-up care and discharge planning following a suicide attempt

Concern was raised by the community around discharge planning with the belief that follow up care was not being undertaken. This was resulting in patients falling through the gaps and not receiving the treatment they required.

Suggestions to improve this problem included a review and redesign of current aftercare services and the development of a local multidisciplinary network with information sharing to provide follow-up care for individuals and their families following a suicide attempt.

Youth education and resilience building

Youth mental health was also a priority area raised for the region, 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 better collaboration between services to streamline referrals, reduce waiting times and create a ‘no wrong door’ approach. There was a consensus with participants that the health system was currently disjointed, with services assuming suicide is catered for by other agencies, therefore highlighting the need for clear stepped care and service delineation.

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 the local area. Generally, the key issues and trends were highlighted and reflected in both methods, and no obvious disparities were found in the Yorke Peninsula data.

Education and upskilling was reiterated throughout the consultation process. The survey highlighted a generalised poor understanding of suicide and mental health, lack of adequately trained health care providers and lack of information for families and carers to support them in a crisis. This was reiterated during the forums, albeit with a targeted focus on service providers rather than the community.

Workforce collaboration was identified in both methodologies. Seventy-eight percent of survey respondents perceived no workforce collaboration taking place in the region, while forum participants believed the current system to be disjointed with services assuming suicide is cared for by other agencies, therefore, highlighting the need for clear stepped care and service delineation.

On reviewing the predominant needs and gaps identified through 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 Yorke Peninsula community were:

Workforce development and upskilling

Follow up care and discharge planning following a suicide attempt

Youth education and resilience building

Referral Pathways and early intervention

Upskilling and suicide prevention training for frontline workers, allied health professionals and GPs was a key priority.