State of the Nation in Suicide Prevention
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STATE OF THE NATION IN SUICIDE PREVENTION A survey of the suicide prevention sector September 2020 Highlights An emerging, collaborative sector serving communities Increasing demand for Our respondents across Australia suicide prevention support 42% report an increase organisations 69% 78% in demand collaborate with Government and/or other organisations need more funding 31% and support to cope individuals 65% suicide prevention agree more funding 27% organisations started up 67% needed to support unspecified within the past 5 years priority populations Key risks to suicide rates* Ways to address risk Lift the base rate of JobSeeker 82% Employment Fund clear vocational pathways to work Enhance digital and face to face 81% Social isolation peer-to-peer support Relationship Broaden Better Access Scheme to 77% breakdown cover relationship counselling Sector and community back a whole Access to better data on suicide of government approach to suicide prevention of suicide prevention organisations need access to 95% 75% better data on suicide State of the Nation 70% of Australians support a participants support a of all participants agree there are Suicide Prevention Act whole of government gaps in data collections systems approach 83% Suicide prevention workforce has critical gaps in skills and training Minimum Understanding standard suicide the needs of Integrating intervention training priority groups lived experience for frontline workers (e.g. LGBTQI+) *Participants could select more than one response. Executive Summary Suicide Prevention Australia is the national peak body Most organisations need more support for the suicide prevention sector. We number among our membership many of the largest and smallest suicide While the suicide prevention sector has proven to be prevention organisations, as well as individuals with resilient, most need more support. One in three suicide lived experience of suicide, research and subject matter prevention organisations have informed us they require expertise. additional funding and support to cope with continued increases in demand. This support should be an urgent About the survey priority for Government in the 2020-21 Federal Budget, particularly at a time when thousands of Australians We designed the State of the Nation in Suicide are newly vulnerable to distress and impacts on their Prevention Survey to gather in-depth intelligence from our wellbeing. membership and the broader suicide prevention sector. The survey, and this report, are structured around four Suicide Prevention Australia is proud to represent key themes: the current operating environment; risks and a sector that supports the most vulnerable Australians. protective factors; our National Policy Platform priorities Most suicide prevention organisations support groups of whole of government reform, accurate, reliable data that experience greater rates of suicide, with many and workforce strategy; and the funding environment. working with young people, Aboriginal and Torres The information we have gathered on this area will inform Strait Islander communities, with LGBTQI+ Australians, our policy and advocacy work in 2020/21. Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities, the homeless and the unemployed. A majority of Suicide Prevention Australia aims to conduct the State of participants, however, have advised that greater the Nation survey annually, with the results to be released investment in programs and services targeting priority every World Suicide Prevention Day. In this baseline groups is required. iteration we have combined quantitative questions to provide the basis for mapping trends with open-ended, The suicide prevention sector shares community qualitative questions. These have enabled us to gather perceptions about emerging areas of suicide risk insights that will shape future iterations of the survey. Participants in this survey ranked social isolation and A collaborative, resilient sector loneliness, unemployment and job security, and family and relationship breakdown as the most significant The COVID-19 pandemic is proving to be a ‘black swan’ emerging risks to suicide. The high level of concern about event, with economic and social ramifications extending these emerging areas of risk were shared by respondents far beyond the public health crisis caused by the virus. to Suicide Prevention Australia’s recent YouGov poll of the Australia has been doubly affected, having experienced a broader Australian population, which also ranked social severe bushfire season only months before the COVID-19 isolation and unemployment as two of the leading risks pandemic reached our shores. The compounding impact to suicide rates. of these crises means many in our communities are vulnerable to distress. The sector, however, has provided constructive advice on the policy interventions that would mitigate emerging risk The suicide prevention sector is rising to the challenge. factors for suicide. Examples of our participants’ ideas While more than three quarters of our participants include increasing social supports such as JobKeeper reported a significant increase in demand for their and JobSeeker; tailored methods for peer to peer and services, suicide prevention organisations and experts community connection including face to face and digital are highly collaborative. More than two thirds work with options; and broadening the Better Access initiative to Government agencies, other not for profit and community- cover relationship counselling. These proposals are in line based organisations, with only one in twenty delivering with Suicide Prevention Australia’s recent advocacy work.1 their services and programs in isolation. Many participants reported transitioning in person and face-to-face services to online modes of service delivery in response to COVID-19 physical distancing measures. Participants noted the benefits of being able to provide their services more broadly and increase their reach by providing services via online platforms. www.suicidepreventionaust.org 03 Strong support for our National Policy Platform The sector requires data to determine how these shifts are priorities impacting the mental health and wellbeing of Australians; many of whom are now struggling to maintain or find We surveyed the sector to gauge continued support employment, service their debts, access affordable for our National Policy Platform and to gather ideas to housing, or other social supports. progress adoption of our three pillars. The National Policy Platform, published in April 2019, outlines three priorities Our survey respondents also advised that the skills and or ‘pillars’ for systemic suicide prevention reform: a whole training needs of the suicide prevention workforce need of government approach; accurate, reliable data on better planning and investment. Continuing our call for a suicide and suicidal behaviour; and workforce strategy. standalone national suicide prevention workforce strategy will be a focus for Suicide Prevention Australia in the There was strong support for the sector for these lead-up to the National Suicide Prevention Adviser’s final priorities. An overwhelming majority of participants report, due in late 2020. support a whole of government approach to suicide prevention. Our survey participants also described a The sector wants to see funding for suicide whole of government model in line with our National prevention drive accountability and change Policy Platform: including a permanent suicide prevention function at the national level; assigning responsibility Finally, funding for suicide prevention should be used as a for suicide prevention to first ministers; and using mechanism for driving accountability and change. Many of Commonwealth funding to drive a nationally consistent our participants expressed a clear view that public funding approach to suicide prevention policy and accountability. should be allocated to programs and services with proven outcomes, or with clear evidence of quality, safety and A majority of participants expressed an urgent need for efficacy. accurate, reliable data on suicide prevention. This data goes beyond data on suicide deaths: the sector needs For more information reliable, rapid information on self-harm and suicidal behaviours, as well as information on social determinants. If you would like more information on the State of the This is particularly pressing given the significant structural Nation Survey and its results, please contact changes to industries, communities and the Australian [email protected] economy currently underway due to the COVID-19 pandemic.2 04 www.suicidepreventionaust.org The suicide prevention sector A diverse sector, serving communities across Australia with a range of needs. Geographic spread – where organisations Organisation size provide services 2% 10% 10% 51% 43% 63% 57% 20% 63% 71% 15% 61% 1-20 employees 50-199 employees 500-999 employees 47% 21-49 employees 200-499 employees 1000+ employees The sector is emerging and highly collaborative • More than two thirds (69%) of respondents said they work with Government agencies, other not for profit • One in five (20%) organisations were established within organisations and community based organisations, the last 5 years, with the remainder (80%) established with only 4.7% reporting no collaboration with other more than 6 years ago. organisations The sector supports vulnerable populations and communities Communities supported 1-20 21-49 50-199 200-499 500-999 1000