Tasmania is preparing to participate in a national trial exploring how a coordinated approach can help local
communities reduce suicide.
Tasmania is one of 12 sites around the country taking part in the Australian Government-funded trial.
Primary Health Tasmania will lead the trial in Tasmania, working closely with the Department of Health and
Human Services and the suicide prevention sector.
Primary Health Tasmania general manager Mark Broxton said the national trial represents a major
opportunity to test different approaches to reducing suicide and self-harm.
“There are a range of suicide prevention activities on the ground throughout Tasmania including clinical
services, education and training,” Mr Broxton said.
“The purpose of this trial is to see how multiple activities can be implemented in a coordinated and
collaborative way at a local level to build community capacity to reduce suicide.
“We all have a role to play in preventing suicide in our community, including looking after ourselves and
supporting each other, but it is only by working together that we can prevent suicide.”
Tasmania has the second highest rate of suicide in Australia (16 suicides per 100,000 people in 2015).
Each of the 12 trial sites will focus their work on a priority population group. The Tasmanian population group
will be decided in the next month.
The results from each trial site will be assessed independently and shared nationally to help inform more
effective suicide prevention activities across Australia.
Implementation of the national trial is being supported by the Black Dog Institute, whose LifeSpan suicide
prevention model will be used in Tasmania and at many of the other trial sites.
LifeSpan Director at the Black Dog Institute, Rachel Green, is in Hobart today to address an information
session about the model for a number of service providers and community groups.
Primary Health Tasmania is partnering with the Tasmanian Suicide Prevention Community Network and the
Department of Health and Human Services to run today’s forum, which gives participants an opportunity to
learn about the evidence behind the framework and ask questions about how it can be applied in Tasmania.
The forum is the first of a number of local consultation and engagement activities that will be held throughout
development, implementation and evaluation of the trial.
“LifeSpan is a world-class approach to suicide prevention which combines nine evidenced-based strategies
into one community-led initiative,” Ms Green said.
“It aims to build a safety net for the community by connecting and coordinating new and existing suicide
prevention activities and building the capacity of the community to better support people facing a suicide
crisis.”
Mr Broxton said once the Tasmanian population group and location have been selected, the trial partners will
look at what suicide prevention activity is already on the ground, where it fits within the LifeSpan framework,
and what needs to be developed to fill the gaps.
“Primary Health Tasmania will work with existing services and programs to ensure that future programs are
meeting the needs of the community and not duplicating what is already in place,” he said.
Activity will align with and complement the Tasmanian Suicide Prevention Strategy 2016-2020.
The Australian Government has provided $3 million for the Tasmanian component of the trial, which is
scheduled to run until 30 June 2019.
Primary Health Tasmania is establishing an advisory group to support development and implementation of
the trial.
The Tasmanian Suicide Prevention Trial Advisory Group is being drawn from members of the existing
Tasmanian Suicide Prevention Community Network.
More information about Primary Health Tasmania: www.primaryhealthtas.com.au
Jenny Denholm, www.primaryhealthtas.com.au
