Suicide Prevention Australia Update

 

Message from the CEO

A couple of weeks ago, the day after I stepped up as Acting CEO while Nieves is overseas, I was excited to see the introduction of a Suicide Prevention Bill into the NSW Parliament. Although the Bill is not yet law, it’s a significant step towards what we, and many of you, have advocated for over a number of years. If passed, the legislation will see a whole-of-government plan, agency-level suicide prevention responsibilities, data sharing, and the suicide register enshrined in law. It’s a meaningful milestone; and we’ll continue to push for similar legislation in every jurisdiction across the country. It comes at a time when levels of distress in the community remain high. Our latest Community Tracker results show that one in seven Australians have experienced suicidal behaviour in the past year. And that number jumps to one in four among young people aged 18-24. While cost-of-living stress has slightly eased, social isolation and loneliness have risen to become the third leading cause of distress. These are not just statistics, they’re people in communities who need support. With a new term of government now underway, it’s a good time to be starting and building relationships across the Parliament so we can push for change. We have a number of meetings with MPs scheduled over the next couple of months to do just that. Together with our members, we’ll keep advocating for implementation of the National Suicide Prevention Strategy, the reinstatement of the Suicide Prevention Research Fund and legislation that embeds responsibility for suicide prevention across all levels of government. Thank you for your ongoing support. Christopher Stone Acting CEO

State of the Nation in Suicide Prevention Survey We invite you to take part in Suicide Prevention Australia's State of the Nation survey and help shape the future of suicide prevention.  Your insights help guide our national advocacy efforts, informing government relations and ensuring that suicide prevention strategies are grounded in the realities faced by communities and service providers across Australia. The survey takes about 15 minutes to complete and closes on Friday, 27 June at 5 pm AEST. Take the survey

Lived Experience Front and Centre at NSPC25 I’ve been reflecting a lot in the past few weeks following our National Suicide Prevention Conference in Perth.    It was incredible to be a part of the nearly 900 people at the conference, meeting so many people for the first time, and catching up with others I’ve known for years.    We listened to passionate stories and engaged with important data and research. We learned about countless services, supports and programs across the country that are helping to save lives and are boosting the wellbeing of our communities. Our connections were strong, and our purpose was unmistakable.  Read more

Expressions of Interest – Policy Advisory Committee  Suicide Prevention Australia invites Expressions of Interest from Members to participate in the Suicide Prevention Australia Board Policy Advisory Committee for a two-year term. There are seven vacancies on the committee to be filled by Suicide Prevention Australia Members.     The Policy Advisory Committee provides advice to the Suicide Prevention Australia Board, and the Sector Advocacy Team through the CEO, on priorities, content, activities and processes for policy development and advocacy. The Committee meets either in person or via virtual meetings at least three times a year.    Committee members are selected on the basis of their expertise and ability to contribute effectively to Suicide Prevention Australia’s policy agenda.  For more information, contact rebekahh@suicidepreventionaust.org   Submit EOI

Member Spotlight  Lived Experience Australia 100% Lived Experience Leadership  Lived Experience Australia (LEA) is a distinctive national advocacy organisation where every board director and staff member brings lived experience of mental ill-health as a consumer, carer, or both. This authentic foundation has established LEA as a trusted voice in mental health reform for over 20 years.  As the national peak body for the private mental health sector, LEA creates pathways for lived experience perspectives to influence policy development and service improvement across all mental health service types. Find out more

Member Directory – Coming Soon! We’re excited to announce the upcoming launch of our Member Directory – an opportunity to showcase and connect with the amazing organisations in our network. Stay tuned for how you can explore, connect and collaborate!

Helping Suicide Prevention Australia Members Access Grants Suicide Prevention Australia is committed to supporting our members in accessing funding to sustain and grow their suicide prevention initiatives. That’s why we’ve partnered with GrantGuru, Australia’s most comprehensive grant database, to help you find funding opportunities meet your needs. Find out more

Suicide Prevention System Mapping Survey The Department of Health and Aged Care has engaged ARTD Consultants to map the suicide prevention system, informing evaluations of three initiatives funded through the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention System. The survey is for people who work at a system level, for service providers and for people with lived experience with suicide. Take the survey

NSW Universal Aftercare Service Delivery Model  The Universal Aftercare Service Delivery Model is a newly launched resource offering practical, evidence-informed guidance to help aftercare services support people after a suicidal attempt or crisis. Co-developed by the NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation with frontline services and lived and living experience representatives, it can be adapted locally to improve the safety, consistency and effectiveness of hospital, general practice or NSW government services.  The service delivery model includes support for priority populations and practical considerations for governance and workforce development. Access here

Policy Brief on Small Business Owners  Beyond Blue, together with the Wellbeing and Prevention Coalition in Mental Health and COSBOA, has released a policy brief urging stronger mental health support for small business owners experiencing significantly higher levels of stress, anxiety, or depression, due to by financial pressures, isolation, and long hours. The brief recommends co-designed, tailored mental health initiatives, an increased investment in proven programs, better national consistency, and recognition of mental health in workplace safety frameworks. Programs like Beyond Blue’s NewAccess for Small Business Owners show that accessible, early support can make a difference to the 97% of business owners who are small business owners.   Read more