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The Macedon Ranges Suicide Prevention Trial Site
Suicide is preventable….earlier intervention is possible
The Macedon Ranges suicide prevention trial is one of 12 suicide prevention trial sites in Victoria. At each site, organisations, services and community work together to develop a plan to reduce suicides and to deliver effective suicide prevention at a local level.
Each of the 12 trial sites is taking a place-based approach to their work. This recognises the need to work closely with the local community and services, to develop priorities for action.
Suicide prevention is a shared focus of the Victorian Government Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and Primary Health Networks (PHNs) who have partnered together to support the 12 Trial sites in Victoria. The North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network is providing funding support for the Macedon Ranges Place-Based Suicide Prevention Trial.
Statistics and Information
65000
People make a suicide attempt in Australia each year
600
People die by suicide in Victoria each year
16
People out of 100,000 die by suicide in the Macedon Ranges (Higher than both the Victorian and Australian rate).
4
Out of 5 deaths by suicide in the Macedon Ranges were male (2007-2017)
Suicide is the leading cause of death for Australians aged between 15 and 44 years.
Whilst mental illness is a risk factor for suicide, many people without a diagnosed mental illness die by suicide.
Talking openly about suicide can help to prevent it.
Up to 135 people - including family members, friends, colleagues and associates - can be exposed (i.e. knew the person or identifies with them) to each suicide death.
Suicide can be a response to any combination of difficult circumstances including relationship breakdown, loss of employment and money worries.
The rate of suicide in the shire, at 15.6 per 100,000 was also higher than both the Victorian rate of 9.1 and the Australian rate of 12.1. (2007-2017)
Our Approach
Lifespan – an integrated approach to suicide prevention
Lifespan is a comprehensive systems approach to suicide prevention. It brings together nine evidence-informed strategies that recognise successful suicide prevention means working with healthcare and community professionals and organisations, along with government and non-government agencies, alongside those with a lived experience of suicide.
To find out more about each of the nine LifeSpan strategies visit the Black Dog Institute website here.
Projects
Improving the Out of Hours Response to People in Suicidal Crisis in Macedon Ranges
Promoting Healthier Masculinities in the Macedon Ranges
A Community Support Model for People Living with Mental Illness in Macedon Ranges
Macedon Ranges Mentally Active Sports (MRMAS)
Project documents
Snap shot - suicide prevention activities in Macedon Ranges
DownloadAccess to Training
Training Courses
Training For Everyone
Training for Health Professionals
Do you live, or work in the Macedon Ranges Shire?
The trial site is offering FREE access to a range of different training courses to equip you with the skills to prevent suicide or assist someone with a mental health problem.
If you are an interested community member, work in a school setting, local business, or community organisation, and would like to access suicide prevention or mental health training you can contact Deepa Patel at deepa.patel@mrh.org.au or on 0437 771 840.
Interactive training program that will give you the skills and knowledge to keep family, friends, co-workers, and others safe from suicide.
90 minutes online
safeTALK
Aims to assist you to recognize warning signs that someone may be thinking about suicide, engage with the person and connect them with resources to help them be safer from suicide.
4 hours face-to-face
Mental Health First Aid Training
Teaches you simple, practical first aid skills to help a person who is experiencing mental health problems, including those experiencing a crisis.
2 days face to face or online
ASIST Applied suicide intervention skills training
Teaches you to recognize when someone may be at risk of suicide and work with them to create a plan that will support their immediate safety.
2 days face to face
Talking about suicide in general practice
Increases your skill and confidence in: recognising presentations where suicide risk is high, undertaking a detailed risk assessment and management planning using a collaborative, team based approach.
Half day face-to-face
Advanced Training in Suicide Prevention (ATSP)
Increases your skill and confidence in taking a detailed suicide history and developing a collaborative management plan to increase the safety of people planning suicide.
1 day face-to-face
Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicide (CAMS)
CAMS is a therapeutic framework that equips you with the skills for suicide-specific assessment and treatment of a patient’s suicidal risk.
3 hours online
Training Courses
Do you live, or work in the Macedon Ranges Shire?
The trial site is offering FREE access to a range of different training courses to equip you with the skills to prevent suicide or assist someone with a mental health problem.
If you are an interested community member, work in a school setting, local business, or community organisation, and would like to access suicide prevention or mental health training you can contact Deepa Patel at deepa.patel@mrh.org.au or on 0437 771 840.
Training For Everyone
Interactive training program that will give you the skills and knowledge to keep family, friends, co-workers, and others safe from suicide.
90 minutes online
safeTALK
Aims to assist you to recognize warning signs that someone may be thinking about suicide, engage with the person and connect them with resources to help them be safer from suicide.
4 hours face-to-face
Mental Health First Aid Training
Teaches you simple, practical first aid skills to help a person who is experiencing mental health problems, including those experiencing a crisis.
2 days face to face or online
ASIST Applied suicide intervention skills training
Teaches you to recognize when someone may be at risk of suicide and work with them to create a plan that will support their immediate safety.
2 days face to face
Training for Health Professionals
Talking about suicide in general practice
Increases your skill and confidence in: recognising presentations where suicide risk is high, undertaking a detailed risk assessment and management planning using a collaborative, team based approach.
Half day face-to-face
Advanced Training in Suicide Prevention (ATSP)
Increases your skill and confidence in taking a detailed suicide history and developing a collaborative management plan to increase the safety of people planning suicide.
1 day face-to-face
Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicide (CAMS)
CAMS is a therapeutic framework that equips you with the skills for suicide-specific assessment and treatment of a patient’s suicidal risk.
3 hours online
Our Partners
Meetings
Suicide Prevention Trial Site partners meet regularly to develop and oversee the implementation of trial site projects. You can find out more about our governance structure, the Collaborative below.
Click on the links to see agenda and papers for meetings.
Stewardship Group
Agenda and Minutes January 2020
Reference Group
Accessing Support
Self Care
When you’re putting emotional energy and effort into supporting another person and keeping them from harm, it’s important that you look after yourself. Make your own health and wellbeing a priority. Go to Beyond Blue for more information.
24/7 Support
|
Triple Zero (emergency) |
For use in life threatening or time critical |
000 |
|
Beyond Blue |
Depression, anxiety and related disorders |
1300 224 636 |
|
Lifeline |
Crisis support, suicide prevention and |
13 11 14 |
|
Lifeline text messaging service (6pm – midnight) |
0477 13 11 14 |
|
|
Kids HelpLine |
Young people aged 5-25 |
1800 551 800 |
|
SuicideLine |
People affected by suicide |
1300 651 251 |
|
Suicide Call Back Service |
24/7 free professional phone and online counselling |
1300 659 467 |
|
Standby Murray - |
People bereaved or impacted by suicide |
0439 173 310 |
|
MensLine Australia |
Men with family and relationship concerns |
1300 789 978 |
|
Mental Health Crisis Line |
Mental health triage (information, assessment |
1300 367 788 |
|
Switchboard |
Switchboard provides a free telephone peer-based counselling, information and referral service for LGBTIQA+ identifying people and those who have questions or concerns about LGBTIQA+ issues. |
1800 184 527 |
Local Support
- Cobaw Community Health - 1300 026 229 - Children and adolescent psychology service. Enrich Youth Program (outreach service for people 12-25 years experiencing mental health issues)
- Macedon Ranges Health - 03 5428 0300 - Psychology and counselling services
- PS My Family Matters - 0475 269 965 - Support and information for family members and carers of individuals living with a mental illness
- MRSPAG - Peer support and information from those with a lived experience of suicide
Supporting Someone
It’s a myth that talking directly about suicide will put the idea in someone’s head. Here are some ideas to help start a conversation:
“I’ve noticed that you haven’t been yourself lately. Is everything okay?”
“I’m worried about you. Can we talk about what’s troubling you?”
“You seem (down/sad/angry/unhappy) lately. I’m worried that you might be thinking of hurting yourself or suicide. Can we talk about this?”
Online Support
|
Head to Health |
|
|
Beyond Blue |
|
|
Lifeline |
|
|
Suicide Call Back Service |
|
|
SANE Australia |
sane.org (Helpline: 1800 187 263) |
|
eheadspace (for 12-25 year olds) |
|
|
ReMinder suicide safety plan app |
ontheline.org.au/what-we-do/suicide-prevention/making-a-safety-plan |
|
Switchboard |
Switchboard.org.au (webchat, 3:00pm-midnight everyday) |
|
My compass self-help tool |
If you would like to find out more about the work of the Macedon Ranges Suicide Prevention Trial Site, including how to get involved, please contact deepa.patel@mrh.org.au