The Goldfields Suicide Prevention Project (GSPP); a unique project that took a coordinated, regional approach to raising awareness of mental health and suicide prevention, while simultaneously increasing the capacity of local communities to engage in suicide prevention. This is in alignment with the National Suicide Prevention Strategies such as supporting individuals and communities to seek help and to support others; building and supporting a competent, compassionate workforce and all through the development of outcomes driven partnerships in a rural and remote settings 2022-23.
Hope Community Services (HOPE) and the WA Primary Health Alliance (WAPHA) collaborated with 4 local government areas (LGAs) to deliver the GSPP; the Shires of Coolgardie, Laverton and Leonora, and the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder.
HOPE acted as the back-bone organisation, the four LGAs pooled funding, enabling activities and initiatives previously run under separate local mental health plans to be drawn together. With the benefit of economies of scale, these activities and initiatives were expanded across more than one community, maximising their impact.
The GSPP enabled:
- the accreditation of two community champions through the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) ‘Train the Trainer’ program
- the Goldfields Targeted Research Project, which quantified the knowledge and experiences of the community around suicide, mental health and available services
- the Small Grants Initiative, which funded local organisations to promote mental health and address suicide prevention
- the Red Dust cultural healing program on grief and loss for First Nations people
- online mental health training
Evaluation and outcome reporting has demonstrated some significant successes in the region.
- The ASIST trainers facilitated multiple ASIST workshops in Goldfields communities, educating participants on identifying and supporting a person at risk of suicide.
- The Goldfields Targeted Research Project provided a LGAs with a clear picture of mental health priorities in their area and provided recommendations on what they should advocate for at a State Government level.
- The Small Grants Initiative funded events that promoted mental health awareness and connection to community. Events included an “Amazing Race” for young people, a memorial basketball tournament to remember those lost and art therapy sessions.
- The Red Dust healing program ran in four locations, and post-event surveys showed 75% of participants said they would use the skills they learned in their personal lives.
- Twenty-eight people participated in Lifeline Virtual Training Sessions, building their capacity to support others experiencing mental ill health.