❓ The Minister outlines actions taken in response to youth suicides in Bunbury, including mental health service engagements, funding allocations for various programs, and support for schools and community initiatives. Focus is on postvention, early intervention, and training.
AnsweredQoN 1414Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
In view of the recent number of suspected youth suicides in Bunbury: (a) what action is the Minister taking to deliver additional services in the areas of early intervention and suicide prevention to Bunbury; (b) what additional funding has been or will be provided to Bunbury for early intervention and suicide prevention services; (c) what additional funding has been or will be provided to the South West Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service to provide early intervention services in Bunbury; and (d) what additional training or support has been or will be provided to general practitioners, counsellors and chaplains in Bunbury?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
24 September 2014
Responded by
Minister for Child Protection
Response time
43 days
(a) I met with local mental health services, education authorities and school psychologists on 1 July 2014 to listen to community concerns about the recent tragic loss of young people to suicide in the Bunbury region.
Following this meeting, the Mental Health Commission (MHC) engaged the National Standby Response Service (Standby) to provide a Critical Postvention Response in Bunbury. Since 14 July 2014, Standby has activated its response with two specialist staff to support community members through:
· bereavement counselling;
· Pathways to Care workshops on mapping services and referral pathways;
· Crossing the River workshops on understanding lived experience of suicide attempts and loss;
· working with local stakeholders to develop a Bunbury postvention plan to be maintained by Red Cross; and
· building the capacity of local services.
Postvention support for people bereaved by suicide is an essential component of suicide prevention and early intervention.
(b) The State Government has invested $2 million in 2014/15 to strengthen the Response to Self-Harm and Suicides in Schools (School Response). Through the School Response, Youth Focus is providing outreach to young people at-risk and the Department of Education School Psychology Service is supporting Bunbury schools.
A further $20,000 has been provided for Teen Mental Health First Aid and Youth Mental Health First Aid training for Bunbury students, staff and parents.
The South West region recently received approximately $30,000 for local suicide prevention initiatives targeting young people, through the Ministerial Council for Suicide Prevention community grants. This includes:
· LAMP Inc delivering a program to educate Busselton high school students to develop resilience, and enhance mental health and connectedness in Aboriginal culture;
· Nannup Community Resource Centre holding presentations on bullying and cyberbullying; and
· The Shire of Augusta Margaret River holding Safe Talk workshops for young people aged 12-25.
(c) Through the 2014/15 Service Agreement with the Department of Health, the MHC provides nearly $87 million to the WA Country Health Service and over $61 million to the Child and Adolescent Health Service for a range of services, including inpatient services at Bunbury Regional Hospital and community non-admitted services.
(d) See the response to (b) above.
Following this meeting, the Mental Health Commission (MHC) engaged the National Standby Response Service (Standby) to provide a Critical Postvention Response in Bunbury. Since 14 July 2014, Standby has activated its response with two specialist staff to support community members through:
· bereavement counselling;
· Pathways to Care workshops on mapping services and referral pathways;
· Crossing the River workshops on understanding lived experience of suicide attempts and loss;
· working with local stakeholders to develop a Bunbury postvention plan to be maintained by Red Cross; and
· building the capacity of local services.
Postvention support for people bereaved by suicide is an essential component of suicide prevention and early intervention.
(b) The State Government has invested $2 million in 2014/15 to strengthen the Response to Self-Harm and Suicides in Schools (School Response). Through the School Response, Youth Focus is providing outreach to young people at-risk and the Department of Education School Psychology Service is supporting Bunbury schools.
A further $20,000 has been provided for Teen Mental Health First Aid and Youth Mental Health First Aid training for Bunbury students, staff and parents.
The South West region recently received approximately $30,000 for local suicide prevention initiatives targeting young people, through the Ministerial Council for Suicide Prevention community grants. This includes:
· LAMP Inc delivering a program to educate Busselton high school students to develop resilience, and enhance mental health and connectedness in Aboriginal culture;
· Nannup Community Resource Centre holding presentations on bullying and cyberbullying; and
· The Shire of Augusta Margaret River holding Safe Talk workshops for young people aged 12-25.
(c) Through the 2014/15 Service Agreement with the Department of Health, the MHC provides nearly $87 million to the WA Country Health Service and over $61 million to the Child and Adolescent Health Service for a range of services, including inpatient services at Bunbury Regional Hospital and community non-admitted services.
(d) See the response to (b) above.
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