❓ Hon. Sally Talbot asks about the progress and public release of evaluations of suicide prevention programs and the status of community action plans after funding expiry. The Minister provides updates on the evaluations' timeline, community action plan successes, and ongoing government investment in suicide prevention initiatives.
AnsweredQoN 336Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
SUICIDE
PREVENTION PROGRAMS — EVALUATION
336. Hon
SALLY TALBOT to the Minister for Mental Health:
I refer to the two evaluations of suicide prevention programs
currently underway.
(1) Will the
Edith Cowan University evaluation of the One Life suicide prevention strategy
and the Ministerial Council for Suicide Prevention's broader evaluation
of suicide prevention and postvention support be completed this month?
(2) When will
the two reports be made public?
(3) What
happened to the 45 community action plans after their One Life funding
expired on 31 December 2013?
PREVENTION PROGRAMS — EVALUATION
336. Hon
SALLY TALBOT to the Minister for Mental Health:
I refer to the two evaluations of suicide prevention programs
currently underway.
(1) Will the
Edith Cowan University evaluation of the One Life suicide prevention strategy
and the Ministerial Council for Suicide Prevention's broader evaluation
of suicide prevention and postvention support be completed this month?
(2) When will
the two reports be made public?
(3) What
happened to the 45 community action plans after their One Life funding
expired on 31 December 2013?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question.
(1)–(2)
The independent research, development and evaluation report being undertaken by
Edith Cowan University and the overall evaluation of the ''Western
Australian Suicide Prevention Strategy 2009–2013'' are
progressing well. Although they were anticipated to be finalised this month,
they are now expected to be finalised in mid-2014. After the evaluation reports
have been considered by the Ministerial Council for Suicide Prevention and the
Mental Health Commission, I expect to review the reports and anticipate making
them publicly available this year.
(3) I am
pleased that the member asked about the progress of the community action plans.
From what I have seen and heard from communities since the commencement of the
strategy, there has been great success in building local community awareness of
suicide prevention. The community action approach has actively involved
community members and capacity-building activities appear to have greatly
increased their ability to identify someone at risk of suicide and respond
appropriately. The strategy has also involved local organisations in each
community action plan area through the Pledge Partner initiative. The Pledge
Partners have committed to contributing to the sustainability of the community
action plans and this is an area that will be further built on in the coming
months.
To build on what has already
commenced, $250 000 has been recently allocated by this government, through the
Ministerial Council for Suicide Prevention, to provide additional suicide
prevention training and small grants to communities. This will further
contribute to local activities and strengthen community resilience across the
state. Applications were open to the existing community action plan host
agencies, local governments and Local Drug Action Groups, and closed on 14 February
2014. The grants and training applications have been considered by the
Ministerial Council for Suicide Prevention and I am looking forward to seeing
these new activities come to fruition.
Suicide prevention is a major
priority for the state government, with $1.6 million investment in 2012–13
for counselling, early intervention, crisis lines and postvention services. In
2013–14, Youth Focus was allocated approximately $2.5 million over five years to help
young people to overcome issues associated with self-harm, depression and
suicide. From 2013–14, Lifeline has been allocated approximately $1.6 million
over three years to continue to provide crisis counselling, mental health
support and suicide prevention services.
(1)–(2)
The independent research, development and evaluation report being undertaken by
Edith Cowan University and the overall evaluation of the ''Western
Australian Suicide Prevention Strategy 2009–2013'' are
progressing well. Although they were anticipated to be finalised this month,
they are now expected to be finalised in mid-2014. After the evaluation reports
have been considered by the Ministerial Council for Suicide Prevention and the
Mental Health Commission, I expect to review the reports and anticipate making
them publicly available this year.
(3) I am
pleased that the member asked about the progress of the community action plans.
From what I have seen and heard from communities since the commencement of the
strategy, there has been great success in building local community awareness of
suicide prevention. The community action approach has actively involved
community members and capacity-building activities appear to have greatly
increased their ability to identify someone at risk of suicide and respond
appropriately. The strategy has also involved local organisations in each
community action plan area through the Pledge Partner initiative. The Pledge
Partners have committed to contributing to the sustainability of the community
action plans and this is an area that will be further built on in the coming
months.
To build on what has already
commenced, $250 000 has been recently allocated by this government, through the
Ministerial Council for Suicide Prevention, to provide additional suicide
prevention training and small grants to communities. This will further
contribute to local activities and strengthen community resilience across the
state. Applications were open to the existing community action plan host
agencies, local governments and Local Drug Action Groups, and closed on 14 February
2014. The grants and training applications have been considered by the
Ministerial Council for Suicide Prevention and I am looking forward to seeing
these new activities come to fruition.
Suicide prevention is a major
priority for the state government, with $1.6 million investment in 2012–13
for counselling, early intervention, crisis lines and postvention services. In
2013–14, Youth Focus was allocated approximately $2.5 million over five years to help
young people to overcome issues associated with self-harm, depression and
suicide. From 2013–14, Lifeline has been allocated approximately $1.6 million
over three years to continue to provide crisis counselling, mental health
support and suicide prevention services.
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