Since 2022, Black Dog Institute has been implementing an evidence-based suicide prevention capacity building program funded by the Department of Health and Aged Care to all 31 Primary Health Networks. The aim? To build participants’ capacity in collaboration and coordination, but also to establish and sustain local suicide prevention collaboratives to collectively reduce suicide deaths and attempts.
The establishment of a national network of community-based suicide prevention collaboratives aligns with recommendations in the National Suicide Prevention Strategy Advice (2024), which endorses implementing a systems-based approach to suicide prevention at a local level for at-risk populations.
Our program has successfully brought together both evidence-based practice and practice-based evidence. Part of this success is the inclusion of elements that allow the program to be localised, positioning the participants as the experts in the room.
Local members mean local focus, strategy, and decision making based on strong local knowledge and lived experience.
The Goldfields WA collaborative is just one outstanding example of where participants have strongly and collectively achieved the desired program outcomes:
Prior to delivery, we connected with the lead organisation to identify local needs and priorities, including online info sessions for potential participants. Whole of region site visits occurred to meet key stakeholders who would participate in the program and/or ideally be a part of the collaborative’s governance structure long-term. All workshops were delivered face to face and alternated in location, with capacity to join online if unable to travel. The groups involved dynamic membership, with strong lived experience, First Nations and other priority population representation.
"The training has given participants skills to identify opportunities, challenge and strengthen existing protocols for a more sustainable strategy for the Goldfields region"
Following workshop completion in February 2024 the group have developed a Terms of Reference to establish a Regional Strategic Mental Health Collaborative.
They are working with Roses in the Ocean to establish a Lived Experience Advisory Group, as well as connecting with other collaboratives in their region like PaRK, to discuss activity in other areas such as Pilbara and Wheatbelt. The group are advocating to be recognised as a priority focus within the District Leadership Group and have them operate as the ‘back-bone organisation’ for the collaborative to strengthen its future work.