Suicide Prevention Support
Suicide is a significant and global social issue. It has a ripple effect that is long-lasting, far-reaching and deeply felt by individuals, families, communities and in schools, tertiary institutions and workplaces across Australia. One in 6 (16.7% or around 3.3 million) Australians aged 16–85 had experienced serious thoughts about taking their own life at some point in their lives, around 1.5 million or 7.4% of Australians aged 16–85 years had made a suicide plan, and around 970,000 or 4.9% had attempted suicide during their lifetime.
Research tells us that excellent GP care has been shown to significantly decrease deaths and suicide attempts and we know people with suicidal behaviour frequently visit primary care physicians in the weeks or days before suicide, and 76.9% of people who died by suicide had visited a GP in the three months prior to their death. This makes GPs ideal candidates to identify suicidality, even in those not reporting distress.
Research also suggests beyond the tragic loss of the person, the impact of suicide deaths are felt by up to 135 people with most GPs experiencing at least one patient suicide in a working lifetime indicating the need for effective responses following a suicide.
Please use the information below highlighting some resources and support options that may suit the needs of your patients, including training which helps health professionals have greater confidence to support people at risk who are thinking about suicide by responding compassionately to early signs of distress
It is important that GPs in our region have ready knowledge of, and access to, services and activities (such as continuing professional development education) that will support suicide prevention care for their patients and support patients who know someone that has died by suicide. This information can be accessed through HealthPathways and mentalhealthhelp.com.au making it easier to retrieve regionally agreed clinical guidelines, referral pathways and a directory of local services.
Self-paced online learning for health professionals:
Communicating with Young People About Suicide for General Practitioners
Young people in our region are likely to under disclose suicidal ideation to support agencies or medical professionals. It is viewed that only a small proportion (e.g. 5-10%) of young people who may be at risk of suicide seek out support from agencies. Orygen offer best practice guidance for youth suicide prevention in primary care via a free online module. GPs can learn more and hear from a young person who speaks candidly about her lived experience of suicide, sharing what she found helpful and unhelpful during her interactions with a GP. Access and complete the module by creating a free Orygen LMS account.
Postvention Webinars Responding to a Suicide in Community
GPs play a vital role responding to suicide in a community after a single event and over time. The headspace National GP Program has collaborated with academic, clinical, and lived experience subject matter experts to co-design this series of three webinars for GPs each 1hr 20min in duration and available at no cost on demand. The modules will place you in the driver's seat with a presenting issue at hand framing best practice approaches to respond to bereavement by suicide, postvention in the context of crisis preparedness, and supporting family, young people and community over time.
Featured Resources for Health Professionals
HealthPathways
HealthPathways is a free online health information portal for healthcare professionals in our region, intended to be used during patient consultations. It provides information on how to assess and manage patient concerns, and how to request timely input from specialist services. You can request access to HealthPathways here.
The clinically reviewed assessment and care navigation pathways and referral pages for suicide prevention and bereavement support are:
Featured Suicide Prevention Services
Safe Haven
Safe Haven is a service that provides a safe alternative to the emergency department for individuals experiencing suicidal thoughts or distress. Safe Haven, together with Head to Health, provide a community driven space for people seeking immediate mental health support to receive compassionate and responsive assistance in a place where people can sit, talk, and reflect. No appointment or referral is required.
Safe Haven is located within the Penrith Head to Health Centre, 111 Henry St, Penrith. The centre is open seven days a week, 1:00pm - 9:30pm Monday, Wednesday - Sunday (including public holidays), and 1:00pm - 5:00pm Tuesday.
Peer CARE Companion Warmline
Roses in the Ocean’s suicide prevention call-back service provides a safe place for people with a lived experience of suicide to connect with others with a similar lived experience for a chat, in a shared space of compassion, understanding and respect. Call 1800 777 337 and leave a message, and a Peer CARE Companion will connect with you within 48 hours.
Featured Carer Support
Carer Support Program - Suicide Prevention
Grand Pacific Health’s Suicide Prevention Carer Support Program is a free program which provides connection, support and information for family members and friends with a loved one at risk of suicide in the Nepean Blue Mountains.
Groups are co-facilitated by lived experience peer workers and a family clinician offering you three group sessions (2 hours each) over 5 weeks with optional individual telehealth sessions available in-between and two support calls after the groups finish.
If you have any questions, or you would like to register your interest in a group please call 1800 431 166 or email carerprogram@gph.org.au
Featured Support After Suicide Loss ‘Postvention’ Services
StandBy Support After Suicide - Support for People Bereaved by Suicide
StandBy is Australia’s leading suicide postvention program dedicated to assisting people and communities with feelings of loss, grief and other experiences related to a death by suicide and other people who are impacted by suicide such as witnesses and first responders. For telephone support or to arrange face to face support, contact Standby on 1300 727 247 between 6:00am and 10:00pm, 7 days a week. StandBy also offer resources for responding to a suicide in your community.
Thirrili - Support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People
Thirrili Ltd is a not-for-profit organisation that aims to contribute to the broader social wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people by offering emotional and practical support to families impacted by loss from suicide or other fatal traumatic incidents. Call the 24/7 Thirrili telephone line on 1800 805 801 to speak with a Postvention Advocate and access culturally appropriate bereavement support services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Visit Thirrilli for more information.
