Below is the full statement from LivingWorks Australia, associated with the media story published 20 April 2024 in the Newcastle Herald: ‘Unprecedented demand’, yet funds for suicide prevention program set to end source
Since the beginning of January this year, LivingWorks Australia has seen unprecedented demand for suicide prevention training from schools, communities and first responders, with training more than doubling in the first four months of the year compared to the same period in 2023.
Training high priority, regional & rural populations
The outcomes of the last several months are what are so incredibly important:
- More than 25% of the training this year is happening in high priority areas where there are high suicide rates, which LivingWorks has delivered collaboratively as we follow guidance and advice by the NSW Ministry of Health’s data. Many of these high priority areas are in rural and regional areas. This has led to training at the right time in the right place to support those who need the skills to reach into those heightened areas of suicidality.
- Thanks to the wellbeing team from the NSW Department of Education promoting the training to public schools across the state, so far in the first quarter of the year LivingWorks has trained over 25 schools including wellbeing teams, teachers and school staff.
- Included in this training has been the continued rollout of two-day LivingWorks ASIST suicide first aid by NSW Police, which has so far seen over 1,200 officers and personnel skilled in full suicide intervention and safety planning skills.
Ensuring suicide safety through evidence-based training
“LivingWorks training is the only evidence based, at-scale program teaching skills in suicide intervention and as research tell us, we can’t predict the individuals who’ll take their own life: this is why risk assessments are proving inadequate measures to inform suicide intent, which means we need to ensure those young people who are thinking about suicide are all seen and heard and there are people who are reaching in, asking them about suicide and providing a safety plan.
For young people and middle-aged men in particular, it can appear that suicide deaths or attempts come out of the blue, and most of them are not in contact with the health system. What this means is that we need people close to them, those touchpoints, to have the necessary practical skills to see suicide, ask directly if they’re thinking of suicide, hold space and direct them to immediate safety and in some cases, further treatment and recovery.
Just recently, evaluation by Monash University in Victoria showed that more than 40% of those who do LivingWorks training end up providing a suicide intervention in their community or workplace within 30 days.
The success of the NSW Government’s investment
With more than 18,000 people trained so far and with around 300 workshops set to take place and with an increased uptake in online training, we conservatively estimate the number of people trained to be over 25,000 by the end of June this year, which equates to a return on investment of just under $400 per person trained for the NSW Government.
We often hear the phrase, “suicide is everyone’s business”. But we can’t thank Minister Rose Jackson enough for ensuring NSW is the leading state nationally to put words into action through this investment.
Whilst we’ve been heartened by the number of schools, workplaces and community members that have come forward, like all skills-based training, every 12-18 months those who’ve been trained need to refresh, like we do with CPR and fire safety to ensure a continued network of safety around those thinking of suicide
In showcasing the success of this project, I’d like to acknowledge the LivingWorks project team and trainers, and particularly our providers for key at-risk populations including: MATES in Construction NSW for tradies and mining industries; Twenty10, the LGBTI Health Alliance and ACON for gender diverse communities; eduCAID for culturally and linguistically diverse communities; Batyr for young people in universities; the Lifeline centres across the state that have been delivering our programs for 25 years; and hundreds of individual trainers who’ve been out in communities talking to schools, Indigenous agencies and community groups.
And finally, LivingWorks wants to thank all the participants and the wonderful feedback they have given in the training room and to our evaluation partner, the world renowned Orygen.
What people are saying across NSW
“The day after the safeTALK training one of our headspace youth volunteers went to school where he was able to use the training he had just learnt. Apparently, another young person was concerned about their friend and came to him to just chat about it. He was able to implement the training he had learnt, ask the question about suicide and connect them with a teacher at the school. He said he was able to snap into action because it was so fresh in his mind. So, thank you again – feels like the timing was meant to be.” – headspace Port Macquarie
“Thank you so much for the training last week. Prior to the session I would have found it difficult to pick up on ‘tells’ and to know how to ask a direct question about suicide. In fact, as we were going through the training, I really related to the feeling of awkward concern that was depicted in the ‘what-not-to-do’ videos. I’m grateful for the new sense of confidence I have in recognising and responding to signs that a person or student may be experiencing thoughts of suicide.”- High School Teacher, Port Macquarie
“The introduction of fully funded suicide intervention training into our school community in the Diocese of Lismore has been transformative. We have had numerous staff who have disclosed that either the next day back at school or the next week, they have had to use the training. The positive feedback and examples that staff have used the skills they have learnt is evidence that this should be a high priority training in all schools.”– Pastoral Care Lead, Diocese of Lismore
TRAINING STILL AVAILABLE UNTIL JUNE 30!
Right now, everyone in NSW can get online LivingWorks Start training for free, visit the NSW webpage: www.livingworks.com.au/NSW
If you or a loved one needs immediate support, remember help is close by. Please reach out to Lifeline 13 11 14, 13YARN 13 92 76 or Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800.
Media Reminder: Any reshare or publication of this media statement should abide by the Mindframe media guidelines for safe and accurate reporting on suicide and mental ill-health: https://mindframe.org.au/suicide/communicating-about-suicide/mindframe-guidelines.
