Background
The increase in Suicide rates throughout Victoria has ignited a need for different approaches to suicide prevention, ones that have the potential for innovative, evidence-based care strategies to effectively reduce suicide attempts and support those in crisis. Monash Health is Victoria’s largest public health service. We provide safe, high-quality care to one-quarter of Melbourne’s population, across the entire lifespan, from pre-birth to end-of-life. Monash Mental Health Services provide a range of community, bed-based and specialist services covering the Casey, Cardinia, Greater Dandenong, Kingston, and Monash LGA’s – a population of nearly one million. It has an operational budget of $130 million and employs approximately 280 EFT, representing over 1000 staff. Clayton HOPE is an indicated suicide prevention service of Monash mental Health within its adult mental health service.
Aim of the presentation
The goal of this presentation is to describe the introduction of lived experience workers into a traditionally medical model by a project champion with a focus on addressing the key contributing factor to suicide - a person's lack of perceived meaning or purpose in life.
Methods
The presentation describes the role of a ‘project champion’ in leading the initiative as well as introducing Lived experience into a traditionally clinical model of care. The workforce and model was guided by a pragmatic six-step framework: determining client needs, planning the model of care, identifying workforce requirements, establishing the team, facilitating stakeholder buy-in, and conducting ongoing monitoring and evaluation.
Results
A five-stage model of care was developed and implemented. They are: 1: Early engagement and empathetic support (within 24 hours of referral); 2: Assessment of psychosocial needs and suicidal risk (within 72 hours of referral) 3: Construction of a personal safety plan (within 7 days of referral) 4: Implementation of the personal safety plan (week 2 -12 from referral) and 5: Discharge and handover to ongoing supports (12 weeks from referral).
Discussion
the need for a balanced approach to clinical and non-clinical interventions tailored to the needs of individuals at risk. This model demonstrates the potential for innovative, evidence-based care strategies to effectively reduce suicide attempts and support those in crisis.
The Clayton HOPE service, serving a population of 642,000, has provided support to over 600 individuals since its inception in 2021.
The key implications highlighted are the combining clinical and non-clinical interventions in a balanced way based on client needs; the importance of LEWs and what they do.