Lifeline WA’s vision and purpose is a community free of suicide by supporting those in crisis and reducing the stigmas that are a barrier to people seeking help. We do this by offering skills-based programs that give Western Australians tools and resources for when they are in crisis.
For Australians aged 15-24 years, suicide is the leading cause of death. Of the 304 young people who died by suicide in 2022, 77 deaths occurred in the <17 years age group with 83.1% of these aged 15-17 years. In the period 2021-22, the hospitalisation rate for intentional self-harm for this age group, especially aged 15-19 was the highest of all age groups (389 per 100,000), and these figures are likely to be underreported.
Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based treatment for people with borderline personality disorder and is helpful in treating self-harm and suicidality. For the past five years, Lifeline WA has delivered the award winning DBTeen, an adapted DBT program delivering mental and emotional skills training for young people aged 14-18 years-of-age who experience emotional dysregulation and who are at high risk of suicide and self-harm. DBTeen is unique as it is the only program of its kind in WA delivered for free, making it accessible to all members of the community, regardless of socio-economic status.
Teens and a parent/guardian participate together over 12 weeks, three hours per week learning DBT skills in a group format facilitated by highly trained clinicians. The adult acts as a mentor and provides support to the young person with embedding the new skills at home. More than 385 young people have completed the program, an 86% completion rate. Outcome measures show that 87% of young people felt that skills learned would improve their conditions and 75% with the highest distress level showed significant improvement.
Including the knowledge of people with lived experience is important to the ongoing quality and effectiveness of DBTeen. Surveys and direct input from our participants and Youth Advisory Group help us achieve this.
In working together for the future, DBTeen also upskills two mental health professionals per group to increase DBT knowledge and skills in the WA health sector. To date 80 clinicians have completed the program and used the skills in their professional work, several have become DBTeen facilitators. We are now exploring opportunities to expand this program to other age groups and regions.