An Integrated and Regional Approach to Suicide Prevention and Aftercare
Tracks
Ballroom B - In Person Only
| Friday, November 11, 2022 |
| 9:00 AM - 9:20 AM |
Overview
Alison Thorne, Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network and Zoe Evans, Wellways
Speaker
Zoe Evans
Regional Manager
Wellways
An Integrated and Regional Approach to Suicide Prevention and Aftercare
Abstract
In response to a high number of suicides in a short timeframe late 2018, Murrumbidgee PHN (MPHN) and headspace National pulled stakeholders together to understand the current suicide prevention landscape, any gaps and areas of focus to support an integrated and regional approach to suicide prevention and aftercare. Previously prevention activities were unplanned and reactive and responses to suicide events and critical incidents were often uncoordinated and didn’t occur in a timely manner. A Local Response Group (LRG) was formed comprising of NSW Police, NSW Ambulance, Murrumbidgee Local Health District, MPHN and WellWays. The LRG is a small group of key agencies who are connected to communities and have a key role in providing support.
A Communications and Response Protocol was developed to provide an overarching framework for LRG activities and identifies the broader network of partners we work with in suicide prevention activities and to ensure appropriate and comprehensive responses.
The partnerships with local, state and national agencies and our communities have all been critical for our now well-established suicide prevention and aftercare approach. This collaborative approach has improved accessibility of supports across the Murrumbidgee, both in prevention and aftercare.
We would like to share the evolvement of our model which required reflection, refinement and building in sustainability so a complex system is made easier for our communities.
A Communications and Response Protocol was developed to provide an overarching framework for LRG activities and identifies the broader network of partners we work with in suicide prevention activities and to ensure appropriate and comprehensive responses.
The partnerships with local, state and national agencies and our communities have all been critical for our now well-established suicide prevention and aftercare approach. This collaborative approach has improved accessibility of supports across the Murrumbidgee, both in prevention and aftercare.
We would like to share the evolvement of our model which required reflection, refinement and building in sustainability so a complex system is made easier for our communities.
Biography
Zoe Evans is the Murrumbidgee Regional Manager for Wellways Australia with over twelve years of experience in the Community Services, Suicide Prevention sector.
Zoe has extensive experience working in the Suicide Prevention and After Care sector, mainly in rural and remote communities. Zoe developed much of her knowledge and understanding of Suicide After Care whilst working in the Kimberley Region and more recently in the Murrumbidgee Region.
Zoe is a strong advocate for supporting individuals, families and communities for being able to respond to and address issues relating to suicide prevention and aftercare. Zoe is a Living Works ASIST and Question Persuade Response facilitator.
Alison Thorne
District Community Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol Manager
Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network
An Integrated and Regional Approach to Suicide Prevention and Aftercare
Abstract
In response to a high number of suicides in a short timeframe late 2018, Murrumbidgee PHN (MPHN) and headspace National pulled stakeholders together to understand the current suicide prevention landscape, any gaps and areas of focus to support an integrated and regional approach to suicide prevention and aftercare. Previously prevention activities were unplanned and reactive and responses to suicide events and critical incidents were often uncoordinated and didn’t occur in a timely manner. A Local Response Group (LRG) was formed comprising of NSW Police, NSW Ambulance, Murrumbidgee Local Health District, MPHN and WellWays. The LRG is a small group of key agencies who are connected to communities and have a key role in providing support.
A Communications and Response Protocol was developed to provide an overarching framework for LRG activities and identifies the broader network of partners we work with in suicide prevention activities and to ensure appropriate and comprehensive responses.
The partnerships with local, state and national agencies and our communities have all been critical for our now well-established suicide prevention and aftercare approach. This collaborative approach has improved accessibility of supports across the Murrumbidgee, both in prevention and aftercare.
We would like to share the evolvement of our model which required reflection, refinement and building in sustainability so a complex system is made easier for our communities.
A Communications and Response Protocol was developed to provide an overarching framework for LRG activities and identifies the broader network of partners we work with in suicide prevention activities and to ensure appropriate and comprehensive responses.
The partnerships with local, state and national agencies and our communities have all been critical for our now well-established suicide prevention and aftercare approach. This collaborative approach has improved accessibility of supports across the Murrumbidgee, both in prevention and aftercare.
We would like to share the evolvement of our model which required reflection, refinement and building in sustainability so a complex system is made easier for our communities.
Biography
Alison Thorne is a Registered Nurse who has worked in mental health service provision since 2002. She has post graduate qualifications in Advanced Nursing and Mental Health and since 2012 she has had operational responsibility for Community Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol services across Murrumbidgee Local Health District. Alison has been part of the Local Response Group (LRG) since it began. Despite the very serious reason for the LRG’s existence, she enjoys working with the wonderful group of professionals in the LRG and their ‘can do’, problem solving attitudes.
