❓ WA Parliamentary Question on Notice regarding the Mid West Suicide Prevention Program, including budget, staffing, evaluation, advisory bodies, and suicide statistics. The response provides details on the program's operation and recent suicide data.
AnsweredQoN 471Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the
Mid West Suicide Prevention Officer, and I ask: (a) which body is responsible for delivering the Suicide Prevention program
in the Mid West; (b) will the Minister please detail the budget of this organisation; (c) what are this group’s terms of reference; (d) how many FTE are employed in the Mid West Suicide Prevention Program in
the: (i) North
Midlands sub region; (ii) Batavia
Coast sub region; and (iii) Murchison
sub region; (e) will the Minister please
detail how the performance of this organisation is evaluated; (f) who advises the Mid West Suicide Prevention Coordinator on issues
specific to the Mid West; and (g) how many suicides have there been in the Mid West region in each of the
past five years?
Mid West Suicide Prevention Officer, and I ask: (a) which body is responsible for delivering the Suicide Prevention program
in the Mid West; (b) will the Minister please detail the budget of this organisation; (c) what are this group’s terms of reference; (d) how many FTE are employed in the Mid West Suicide Prevention Program in
the: (i) North
Midlands sub region; (ii) Batavia
Coast sub region; and (iii) Murchison
sub region; (e) will the Minister please
detail how the performance of this organisation is evaluated; (f) who advises the Mid West Suicide Prevention Coordinator on issues
specific to the Mid West; and (g) how many suicides have there been in the Mid West region in each of the
past five years?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
16 February 2022
Responded by
Minister representing the Minister for Mental Health
Response time
3 days
a) The Western Australian Country Health Service (WACHS) are the agency commissioned to deliver the Suicide Prevention Program in the Midwest.
b) In the 2021/2022 financial year, the budget allocated for the implementation of the Suicide Prevention Program in the Midwest is $231,180 (GST exclusive).
c) WACHS does not operate according to terms of reference.
d) WACHS employ 1.5 FTE to coordinate the Suicide Prevention Program across the Midwest.
e) The performance of WACHS for the delivery of the Suicide Prevention Program in the Midwest is monitored and evaluated for contract compliance against agreed key performance measures linked to activities outlined in their contract. The Mental Health Commission has contract management systems, policies, guidelines and procedures in place that comply with legislative and Department of Finance requirements.
f) The Midwest Suicide Prevention Program is advised by various professional and community networks on issues specific to the Midwest. These groups include:
- Midwest Suicide Prevention Committee
- Midwest Postvention Committee
- WACHS Midwest Mental Health and Community Alcohol and Drug Service
- Geraldton Suicide Prevention Action Group
- Geraldton Local drug action Group.
The Suicide Prevention Program Officer also holds regular ‘multi-service days’ to ascertain local knowledge and opinion on current issues in more specific areas such as youth mental health, older adult mental health, and community specific mental health issues.
All groups and committees are guided by specific Terms of Reference relevant to key focus areas.
g) Table 1: Number of confirmed suicide deaths that occurred in the Midwest region per calendar year.
Year
Number of confirmed suicide deaths
2017
27
2018
17
2019
8
2020
Data not available
2021
Data not available
b) In the 2021/2022 financial year, the budget allocated for the implementation of the Suicide Prevention Program in the Midwest is $231,180 (GST exclusive).
c) WACHS does not operate according to terms of reference.
d) WACHS employ 1.5 FTE to coordinate the Suicide Prevention Program across the Midwest.
e) The performance of WACHS for the delivery of the Suicide Prevention Program in the Midwest is monitored and evaluated for contract compliance against agreed key performance measures linked to activities outlined in their contract. The Mental Health Commission has contract management systems, policies, guidelines and procedures in place that comply with legislative and Department of Finance requirements.
f) The Midwest Suicide Prevention Program is advised by various professional and community networks on issues specific to the Midwest. These groups include:
- Midwest Suicide Prevention Committee
- Midwest Postvention Committee
- WACHS Midwest Mental Health and Community Alcohol and Drug Service
- Geraldton Suicide Prevention Action Group
- Geraldton Local drug action Group.
The Suicide Prevention Program Officer also holds regular ‘multi-service days’ to ascertain local knowledge and opinion on current issues in more specific areas such as youth mental health, older adult mental health, and community specific mental health issues.
All groups and committees are guided by specific Terms of Reference relevant to key focus areas.
g) Table 1: Number of confirmed suicide deaths that occurred in the Midwest region per calendar year.
Year
Number of confirmed suicide deaths
2017
27
2018
17
2019
8
2020
Data not available
2021
Data not available
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