A framework for prevention of suicide 1 in Australia livingisforeveryone.com.au Living Is For Everyone: A Framework for Prevention of Suicide in Australia Living Is For Everyone (LIFE) Framework (2007) ISBN: 1-74186-296-5 Online ISBN: 1-74186-297-3 Publications Number: P3 -2060 © Commonwealth of Australia 2008 This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission from the Commonwealth. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to the Commonwealth Copyright Administration, Attorney-General’s Department, Robert Garran Offices, National Circuit, Barton ACT 2600 or posted at http://www.ag.gov.au/cca The Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing has financially supported the production of this review/ publication. While every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained in the review/publication is accurate and up-to-date at the time of publication, the department does not accept responsibility for any errors, omissions or inaccuracies. Using the Living Is For Everyone (LIFE) resources Which LIFE (2007) resource is most useful to you? What do you want to know? Who are you? Which document matches your needs? Living Is For Everyone: Research and You want to know about the latest Evidence in Suicide Prevention sets understanding of suicide and suicide the context for suicide prevention prevention. activity, summarising current theories, You may be an research, evidence and statistics academic, researcher, relating to suicide and suicide livingisforeveryone.com.au prevention in Australia. You want to know that your suicide policy maker, member prevention activities are well founded of parliament, health and well informed. or community services Living Is For Everyone: A Framework professional, service for Prevention of Suicide in provider or community Australia provides a summary of organisation. current understandings of suicide You want to know about the overall and outlines the vision, purpose, purpose, structure, principles and principles, Action Areas, planned priorities for suicide prevention outcomes and strategies for in Australia. suicide prevention in Australia. Living Is For Everyone: A Framework for Prevention of Suicide in Australia You may be a community member, professional carer, Living Is For Everyone: Practical You want something that explains service provider, Resources for Suicide Prevention more about suicide, why people employer, friend, family, is a set of plain language fact sheets suicide, and tells you what you can work colleague or arranged around topic areas that do or say to help prevent suicide, associate of someone summarise the key issues in suicide or to help people bereaved by you think is suicidal, or prevention and suggest further sources suicide. of people affected by a of information and help. suicide – or you yourself may be at risk of suicide. The Living Is For Everyone website: livingisforeveryone.com.au has up-to-date information on suicide prevention activities in Australia and links to a wide range of resources, guidelines and fact sheets. Contents Living Is For Everyone The Living Is For Everyone (LIFE) (LIFE) materials ........................................................................... 06 Action Areas....................................................................................... 26 Audience for the LIFE (2007) materials .............................. 07 Action Area 1 ..................................................................................................... 26 How the LIFE (2007) materials Improving the evidence base and understanding were developed.............................................................................................. 07 of suicide prevention Outcome 1.1 ............................................................................................ 27 Understanding of imminent risk Suicide Prevention in Australia ............. 08 and how best to intervene Background ........................................................................................................ 08 Outcome 1.2 ............................................................................................ 27 The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Understanding of whole of community risk Agreement July 2006 .............................................................................. 08 and protective factors, and how best to build Government and non-government resilience of communities and individuals suicide prevention and related activities ......................... 08 Outcome 1.3 ............................................................................................ 27 Application and continued development What is known about suicide of the evidence base for suicide prevention among high risk populations and suicide prevention? ........................................ 10 Outcome 1.4 ............................................................................................ 27 Improved access to suicide prevention Risk and protective factors for suicide .............................. 10 resources and information Influencing risk and protective factors ............................... 11 Applying our knowledge of risk and Action Area 2 ..................................................................................................... 28 protective factors in suicide prevention............................ 12 Building individual resilience and the capacity What assists in protecting people for self-help against suicide? ............................................................................................. 12 Outcome 2.1 ............................................................................................ 28 What is resilience? ..................................................................................... 13 Improved individual resilience Vulnerability and suicide risk .......................................................... 14 and wellbeing Tipping points .................................................................................................. 14 Outcome 2.2 ............................................................................................ 28 Warning signs ................................................................................................... 16 An environment that encourages and supports help-seeking The Living Is For Everyone Action Area 3 ..................................................................................................... 30 (LIFE) Framework for Suicide Improving community strength, resilience Prevention ............................................................................................... 18 and capacity in suicide prevention Outcome 3.1 ............................................................................................ 30 Context ..................................................................................................................... 18 Improved community strength and resilience The LIFE (2007) model ........................................................................... 18 Outcome 3.2 ............................................................................................ 30 LIFE Framework continuum Increased community awareness of what of suicide prevention activities .................................................... 19 is needed to prevent suicide Outcome 3.3 ............................................................................................ 30 The LIFE Framework for Action .......... 22 Improved capability to respond at potential tipping points and points of imminent risk Strategic directions ................................................................................... 22 Principles underpinning the LIFE Framework Action Area 4 ..................................................................................................... 31 for Action................................................................................................................ 22 Taking a coordinated approach Considerations in implementing the to suicide prevention LIFE Framework for Action .............................................................. 23 Outcome 4.1 ............................................................................................ 31 Summary of Action Areas .................................................................. 24 Local services linking effectively so that people The importance of evaluating suicide experience a seamless service prevention activities .................................................................................. 24 Outcome 4.2 ............................................................................................ 31 Program and policy coordination and cooperation, through partnerships between governments, peak and professional bodies and non-government organisations Outcome 4.3 ............................................................................................ 31 Regionally integrated approaches Action Area 5 ..................................................................................................... 32 Providing targeted suicide prevention activities Outcome 5.1 ............................................................................................ 32 Improved access to a range of support and care for people feeling suicidal Outcome 5.2 ...........................................................................................