Tassie role in suicide battle

MENTAL health stakeholders will gather suicide prevention data from five municipalities across Tasmania as part of a new national trial.

The LifeSpan suicide prevention model, which is funded by the Federal Government until June 2019, is targeting 12 trial sites across the country.

Tasmania’s trial sites include the Launceston, Burnie, Devonport, Break O’Day and Central Coast local government areas, with data gathering to begin by the end of this year.

The idea of the model is for mental health stakeholders, including Primary Health Tasmania and the Black Dog Institute, to gather and map information at the trial sites.

LifeSpan will then implement suicide prevention plans that will promote activities, support and awareness in sectors from the Education Department, private and public health, police and emergency services and businesses.

Tasmania had a suicide rate of 17 per 100,000 people in 2016 — higher than the national rate of 11.7.

Primary Health Tasmania health stream leader and trial co-ordinator Grant Akesson said the five sites were selected based on unemployment rates, recent natural disasters and suicide rates.

“There are fewer services in the North and North-West than in the South,” he said.

“But if some [strategies] work well there, then there is no reason why they couldn’t be applied further south.” If you are in crisis or need support, please contact: Lifeline on 13 11 14 or www .lifeline.org.au; or the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 or www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au