Rural Suicide Prevention Program | Healthy Communities

NATIONAL RURAL & REMOTE SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAM

The Foundation was funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Suicide Prevention Australia in 2022 to design and deliver the National Rural and Remote Suicide Prevention Program.

Goals

STAGE ONE

DESIGN AND DELIVER PEER SUPPORT PROGRAM IN TARGET RUGBY LEAGUE REGIONS

STAGE TWO

PROVIDE TRAINING TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN SUPPORTING LOCAL KIDS EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES OR DISTRESS

STAGE THREE

ESTABLISH AND VALIDATE A NATIONAL MODEL OF SUICIDE PREVENTION USING SPORT AS AN ENTRY POINT FOR ENGAGEMENT

Project Manager

Cassie Talbot

suicideprevention@thcfa.org.au

The program is designed to deliver a scalable, integrated peer-to-peer suicide prevention program designed by communities for communities. The program focusing on the core needs and values of each community individually. The program has a core focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, LGBTQI+, Farming and young people communities as the target audience.

The Program is a partnership between the Foundation and the National Rugby League, NSW Rugby League, Rural Health Connect, Black Dog Institute and ACON to assist in the delivery of much-needed services to each community.

The Foundation will build on the success of the NRL's widely recognised and transformative 'State of Mind' program for girls and boys from year 3 to year 12, initially targeting rural and remote boys and girls in NSW Rugby League towns. Over the 3 year funding period the program will be expanded to other sporting codes to create a program that can be delivered nationally in collaboration with local sporting teams and schools.

The Program as designed through community consultation will:

Provide education to school aged students from year 3 to year 12 with the support of the National Rugby League
Empower the community to take ownership through partnering with local providers providing services in the community to identify gaps and help foster a collaboration between all stakeholders. Create a mental health working group as facilitate the design and implementation of a 3 year mental health community action plan specific to each community.
Provide Mental Health First Aid, Safe Talk and ASIST training to each community to upskill community members to recognise and support each other.
Upskill health professionals living in each community in Suicide Prevention Skills training, to ensure all health professionals have adequate training and skills in assessing, managing and responding to a person presenting in a crisis.