Defence is dedicated to doing better for our people, and is driving significant reform across the Organisation. In partnership with SafeSide Prevention, Defence is strengthening its culture through the implementation of a system-wide approach to suicide prevention. Defence acknowledges suicide is preventable, broader than a health response, and that each of us have a role to play. We are training and equipping our people across all levels of the Organisation with the skills to identify and compassionately respond to peers with suicide-related concerns.
This presentation will highlight progress in building proactive, member-centred suicide prevention training, policy and strategies driven by the collective voices of the Defence community.
Key learnings include:
- A review of the implementation of role-specific education programs, underpinned by updated policies moving from risk prediction and stratification to member-centred risk formulation and safety planning.
- An introduction to the SafeSide CARE Model (Connect, Assess, Respond, Extend) as a common approach and shared language for Defence’s diverse workforce to support members and prevent suicide.
- An overview of educational programs co-designed and customised with Defence personnel, including those with lived experience, embedding military-specific risk and protective factors, member voices, and Defence experts.
- An overview of the systems Defence is using to monitor, evaluate and update training.
We will share data on project reach and initial feedback on the following programs:
- CARE Model - Risk Formulation for Members at Risk of Suicide, Self-Harm, and Harm to Others: Designed for mental health professionals and medical officers to embed a new approach for assessing, managing, and communicating about these risks, guiding compassionate care focused on members’ needs.
- CARE Model - Supporting Members at Risk of Suicide, Self-Harm, and Harm to Others: Targets health clinicians, chaplaincy, and wellbeing support personnel. Highlighting collaboration with health, and command in connecting and extending support to members.
- CARE Model – Leaders and Managers Supporting Members at Risk of Suicide, Self-Harm, and Harm to Others: An eCourse for commanders, providing updates on language and policy changes, with examples for modelling protective behaviours.
- Defence Suicide Awareness: An eCourse for all personnel offering key information on strengthening protective factors, recognising change, and using the CARE Model to connect with someone in need.
Aligned with Together Towards Tomorrow, Defence demonstrates leadership in suicide prevention, being the first military organisation across the globe to implement a prevention-oriented risk formulation approach to suicide, self-harm and harm to others.