❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice addresses suicide and attempted suicide rates, government actions, funding for prevention and counselling, and specific concerns in the Kimberley region, particularly Derby and Mowanjum. The response details funding allocations, community action plans, and ongoing evaluations.
AnsweredQoN 24Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) How many suicides and attempted suicides have been recorded:
(a) this year to date;
(b) when; and
(c) in which localities?
(2) What actions have been taken and are being taken by the Government to address the situation, and which are proving effective?
(3) How much State government money has been allocated and spent on suicide prevention and counselling across the State?
(4) How much State government money has been allocated and spent on suicide prevention and counselling:
(a) in the East Kimberley; and
(b) in the West Kimberley:
(i) for which programs; and
(ii) at which localities?
(5) Is the Minister aware of the 2006 Derby Youth Drug and Alcohol Project Report, the 2011 Derby Crisis Response Meeting Report (responding to a spate of youth suicides),
The Age
newspaper report of comments by Mowanjum CEO responding to a spike in suicides and attempted suicides in 2012, and the repeated plea for a 24 hour healing centre to be established in Derby?
(6) If no to (5), why not?
(7) If yes to (5), what progress has been made towards addressing the concerns expressed in each of these reports and towards the establishment of a 24 hour healing centre?
(8) What has been the effectiveness of the suicide prevention plans (Community Action Plans) completed one year ago for:
(a) Derby;
(b) Mowanjum;
(c) other nearby communities; and
(d) how much funding has been allocated to each?
(a) this year to date;
(b) when; and
(c) in which localities?
(2) What actions have been taken and are being taken by the Government to address the situation, and which are proving effective?
(3) How much State government money has been allocated and spent on suicide prevention and counselling across the State?
(4) How much State government money has been allocated and spent on suicide prevention and counselling:
(a) in the East Kimberley; and
(b) in the West Kimberley:
(i) for which programs; and
(ii) at which localities?
(5) Is the Minister aware of the 2006 Derby Youth Drug and Alcohol Project Report, the 2011 Derby Crisis Response Meeting Report (responding to a spate of youth suicides),
The Age
newspaper report of comments by Mowanjum CEO responding to a spike in suicides and attempted suicides in 2012, and the repeated plea for a 24 hour healing centre to be established in Derby?
(6) If no to (5), why not?
(7) If yes to (5), what progress has been made towards addressing the concerns expressed in each of these reports and towards the establishment of a 24 hour healing centre?
(8) What has been the effectiveness of the suicide prevention plans (Community Action Plans) completed one year ago for:
(a) Derby;
(b) Mowanjum;
(c) other nearby communities; and
(d) how much funding has been allocated to each?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
11 June 2013
Responded by
Minister for Mental Health
Response time
28 days
(1)(a-c) All suspected deaths by suicide are reported to the WA State
Coroner who is responsible for the final determination of cause of each
death. In the case of deaths within the time frame requested, the Coroner
would not have reached their conclusion on all suspected cases.
The WA State Coroner, through the Attorney General, would need to be
approached to ascertain any response to the information requested.
(2) The implementation of the Western Australian Suicide Prevention
Strategy 2009-2013 is a significant State Government commitment to suicide
prevention with funding allocated over four years.
As at May 2013, 54 Community Action Plans (CAPs) have been approved by the
Ministerial Council for Suicide Prevention across the state and 210
organisations have pledged to undertake suicide prevention activities and
training for staff and members.
There are many examples of CAPs enhancing collaboration on suicide
prevention across local communities, government and non-government
organisations and a formalised evaluation process is currently being undertaken
by Edith Cowan University.
(3) The State Government has allocated $13 million over four years to
fund the implementation of the Strategy as well as providing funds for the
administration of the Strategy.
As at May 2013, the State Government has provided Centrecare, the NGO
appointed to support the Ministerial Council for Suicide Prevention to
implement the Strategy, with $13.4 million.
(4)(a-b) A Stage 1 (or preliminary) CAP was developed and implemented
for the East and West Kimberley regions by the Kimberley Aboriginal Medical
Service Council (KAMSC). This was completed in August 2012 and had a budget of
$795,769.
As at May 2013, over $1.9 million has been allocated on Stage 2 Community
Action Plans in the Kimberley. These consist of:
· Broome $428,000
· Derby $531,700
· Dampier Peninsula $304,050
· Fitzroy Valley $200,000
· Kununurra $217,880
· Halls Creek $217,950
(5) Yes.
(6) Not applicable.
(7) The Stage 2 CAP for Derby includes Mowanjum, Pandanus and Looma.
The approved budget is $531,710. The activities included within the CAP were
identified as priorities by the four communities and had strong support during
the local consultation phase. These include:
· The appointment of two Social Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB) Health
Promotion Workers to work directly with the community and meet interpersonal,
relationship, emotional and wellbeing support needs. These workers will
conduct a range of activities including suicide prevention and healing
programs, camps, activities for school aged children, training for community
council members and general counselling/support for those affected by suicide
and for parents in the community.
· In addition a range of suicide prevention and awareness training
will be conducted including Mental Health First Aid training, Hey Dad -
parenting support programs, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training and
the Red Dust Healing Program.
(8)(a-c) Edith Cowan University (ECU) is undertaking research and
evaluation to support the implementation of the Strategy. This requires
the various CAPs to have been in operation for a reasonable time prior to
measuring results, hence this comprehensive data will not be available until
late 2013. Evidence so far indicates strong and positive community
engagement and some tangible results.
(d) See answer 4 above.
Coroner who is responsible for the final determination of cause of each
death. In the case of deaths within the time frame requested, the Coroner
would not have reached their conclusion on all suspected cases.
The WA State Coroner, through the Attorney General, would need to be
approached to ascertain any response to the information requested.
(2) The implementation of the Western Australian Suicide Prevention
Strategy 2009-2013 is a significant State Government commitment to suicide
prevention with funding allocated over four years.
As at May 2013, 54 Community Action Plans (CAPs) have been approved by the
Ministerial Council for Suicide Prevention across the state and 210
organisations have pledged to undertake suicide prevention activities and
training for staff and members.
There are many examples of CAPs enhancing collaboration on suicide
prevention across local communities, government and non-government
organisations and a formalised evaluation process is currently being undertaken
by Edith Cowan University.
(3) The State Government has allocated $13 million over four years to
fund the implementation of the Strategy as well as providing funds for the
administration of the Strategy.
As at May 2013, the State Government has provided Centrecare, the NGO
appointed to support the Ministerial Council for Suicide Prevention to
implement the Strategy, with $13.4 million.
(4)(a-b) A Stage 1 (or preliminary) CAP was developed and implemented
for the East and West Kimberley regions by the Kimberley Aboriginal Medical
Service Council (KAMSC). This was completed in August 2012 and had a budget of
$795,769.
As at May 2013, over $1.9 million has been allocated on Stage 2 Community
Action Plans in the Kimberley. These consist of:
· Broome $428,000
· Derby $531,700
· Dampier Peninsula $304,050
· Fitzroy Valley $200,000
· Kununurra $217,880
· Halls Creek $217,950
(5) Yes.
(6) Not applicable.
(7) The Stage 2 CAP for Derby includes Mowanjum, Pandanus and Looma.
The approved budget is $531,710. The activities included within the CAP were
identified as priorities by the four communities and had strong support during
the local consultation phase. These include:
· The appointment of two Social Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB) Health
Promotion Workers to work directly with the community and meet interpersonal,
relationship, emotional and wellbeing support needs. These workers will
conduct a range of activities including suicide prevention and healing
programs, camps, activities for school aged children, training for community
council members and general counselling/support for those affected by suicide
and for parents in the community.
· In addition a range of suicide prevention and awareness training
will be conducted including Mental Health First Aid training, Hey Dad -
parenting support programs, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training and
the Red Dust Healing Program.
(8)(a-c) Edith Cowan University (ECU) is undertaking research and
evaluation to support the implementation of the Strategy. This requires
the various CAPs to have been in operation for a reasonable time prior to
measuring results, hence this comprehensive data will not be available until
late 2013. Evidence so far indicates strong and positive community
engagement and some tangible results.
(d) See answer 4 above.
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