Suicide Prevention Program spelt out

One initiative of the Suicide Prevention Program aims to teach friends to apply “first aid” when warning signs appear. Photo by Pte Shannon Joyce, Army newspaper

THE SPP complements existing health and mental health services, and has five key elements.

• The all-hours support line (ASL). This is a confidential telephone service operated by contract mental health practitioners who have been specially trained in ADF-specific issues. They act as a triage support line by assessing the situation and offering the caller the most suitable support, ranging from managing an emergency situation to referring non-urgent cases to relevant agencies the next day. These may be ADF health and counselling professionals or external agencies depending on the choice of the caller.
• The Department’s Mental Health (DMH) website. The website provides comprehensive and updated information to assist people who may be in crisis or need more detailed information and points of contact, supporting the ASL.
• Fact Sheets on suicide and the ASL. These are part of a wide range of mental health fact sheets and provide relevant information and points of contact in an easy to read format. So far, 30,000 have been distributed.
• SPP training. Training in Suicide Awareness, which will be provided to all personnel, clinical upskilling for health professionals, specific training for commanders and “First Aid” Training. This training is targeted at suicide awareness and intervention and trains health and non-health personnel to operate as caregivers in these roles. It provides them with the skills to identify people at risk of suicide and then provide the emergency suicide “first aid” and life-assisting intervention, such as reassurance and support until the person can be passed on to health professionals. This care giver can be anyone, regardless of rank or position.
• Policy development, reporting and support. An overarching policy for suicide related behaviour management is currently being developed in DMH. This will complement current policy on suicide management, including the treatment and counselling of personnel and their families involved in suicide and non-fatal suicide related incidents. Two reports have been created, the Suicide Post Event Review, which clarifies the circumstances surrounding a suicide, and the Non-fatal Event Report. Support initiatives comprise the Risk Intervention Teams who help the commander manage personnel who have been involved in non-fatal suicide events and Critical Incident Mental Health Support, established to support individuals who have been exposed to suicide trauma.
• The phone number for the ASL is 1800 628 036 or (02) 9425 3878. The website is www.defence.gov.au/dpe/dhs/mentalhealth It can also be accessed easily following links from the department’s homepage. Fact Sheets are available through a unit’s medical centre or the local DCO office.

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