Suicide Prevention

In reply to the Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS (19 June 2014).

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation): The Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse has provided this advice:

Preventing suicide and the impact it has on individuals, families and the state is something the whole of community must take responsibility for. The personal circumstances and experiences which lead a person to attempt suicide are complex and varied. They do not fall neatly within one area of government or community life.

The Government of South Australia is committed to leading community efforts to tackle suicide through awareness, prevention, intervention and support for those affected by suicide.

Suicide prevention is complex and the things that contribute to suicide prevention are not easily defined in terms of the action only being directed towards suicide prevention.

The SA Mental Health and Wellbeing Policy, the SA Health Primary Prevention Plan 2011- 16, the SA Health Service Framework for Older People in relation to suicide prevention, and the South Australian Suicide Prevention Strategy 2012-16 are documents specific to target areas in Health which contribute to suicide prevention.

The SA Mental Health and Wellbeing Policy 2010–15was the subject of an implementation phase in 2010 and is now the responsibility of the Mental Health Unit and the local health networks to ensure that the elements are incorporated into everyday practice within health services.

The SA Health Primary Prevention Plan 2011-16

The Department for Health and Ageing has retired the primary prevention plan as a consequence of the outcomes of the McCann Review.

The SA Health Service Framework for Older People 2009-16was implemented through a working committee in 2009 and is now the responsibility of local health networks to operationalise.

The South Australian Suicide Prevention Strategy 2012-16; Every life is worth living was developed and supported by the Mental Health Unit from within existing resources. The strategy itself describes the complexity of the work required by all South Australians.

The strategy describes a whole of community response and the South Australian government welcomes new initiatives from community members seeking to raise awareness in their community and break down the stigma surrounding suicide.

The South Australian government provides the Mental Health Unit and a wide variety of mental health services to provide flexible and responsive services to people experiencing a mental illness or emotional distress.

SA Health is taking a lead role in developing suicide prevention networks linked to local government strategic plans. The Suicide Prevention Networks develop suicide prevention action Plans for the local community. An additional FTE will join the Mental Health Unit to assist with the facilitation of these networks in 2014–15.

The SA government has committed just over $1 million funding beyond its commitment to quality mental health services for suicide prevention. The funding includes:

$200,000 to Lifeline, to provide crisis support to South Australians;

$278,000 to beyondblue for continuing work in suicide prevention;

$150,000 funding for suicide prevention networks to address suicide at a local level to raise awareness, breakdown the stigma, promote community education, increase knowledge about help available and encouraging help seeking;

$150,000 in small grants for local suicide prevention and postvention initiatives and activities;

$125,000 for a suicide prevention officer to work in the establishment of suicide prevention networks; and

$115,000 to Centacare for the Youth Suicide Intervention Service (known as Ascend).