Men’s Health Information and Resource Centre
A review of the current approach to suicide prevention

Suicide is perhaps the most gendered health issue with a proportion of around four males for every female. The issues and contexts of suicide are complex and it is a product of many factors which makes it a difficult problem to address. These resources offer some of the personal insights into the causes and factors that lead to suicide in men. These personal accounts offer perhaps a more valuable set of insights into why ending life becomes the only option for many men and boys.

Situational Approach to Suicide Prevention MHIRC - Issue 19

The Situational Approach - A new approach to suicide prevention: This approach acknowledges the predominant association of situational distress, rather than mental illness, with suicide (though in some cases the two are linked), and is principally informed by and responds to risk factors of a broad spectrum of difficult human experiences across the life span. This approach is also mindful of and wherever possible seeks to address contextual, systemic, and socio-cultural risk and protective factors and determinants: the real world of individuals’ lived experience.

 Contents:

  • Alliance for Situational Approach to Prevention of Suicide (ASAPS)
  • COVID-19, unemployment, and suicide
  • Suicide in Rural Australia: Are Farming-Related Suicides Different?
  • Connect 2020 - A mental health and suicide prevention webinar series
Read the full content here

Read more

Situational Approach to Suicide Prevention MHIRC - Issue 21

The Situational Approach- A new approach to suicide prevention: This approach acknowledges the predominant association of situational distress, rather than mental illness, with suicide (though in some cases the two are linked), and is principally informed by and responds to risk factors of a broad spectrum of difficult human experiences across the life span. This approach is also mindful of and wherever possible seeks to address: contextual, systemic, and socio-cultural risk and protective factors and determinants: the real world of individuals’ lived experience.

 Contents:

1. COVID-19 and Mental Health CSI Response October 2020

2. Adverse Life Events and Suicide 
Editorial comment: There is a major discrepancy with the ABS data

3. Personal wellbeing and Covid 19 – The Mental Illness ideology out of control

4. Melbourne’s COVID-19 spike in antidepressant use may trigger suicides by children and adolescents

Read the full content here

Read more

Situational Approach to Suicide Prevention MHIRC - Issue 18

In this edition of the Situational Approach Bulletin we take a closer look at the breakdown for our national figures for suicide deaths. We challenge the description of ‘mental disorder’ being applied to many of these deaths.

We call for a thorough review of how we collect and analyse our suicide data; important changes need to be made in this process if we are to make any inroads at all into reducing the mounting toll of suicide deaths.

 Contents:

  1. Men’s Health Week - 2020
  2. National data – Suicide Deaths
  3. ABS Table - Cause of Death
  4. Mood Disorders
Read the full content here

Read more

Situational Approach to Suicide Prevention MHIRC - Issue 16

In this edition of the Situational Approach Bulletin we offer a few thoughts in response to a 2019 Discussion paper published in The Lancet Psychiatry

Social interventions: a new era for global mental health? 

Abstract:

The   recognition   of   the   relationship   between   socio­structural challenges and poor mental health  outcomes has    recently    taken    centre    stage    in    global    health    debates. Both the Lancet  Commission  on  global  mental  health  and  sustainable  development,1  and  UN  Special  Rapporteur   Dainius   Pūras’   report   on  mental   health have   reaffirmed   the   inseparability   of   mental   health   outcomes    from    macro­level    social   challenges    and    inequalities.

Burgess, R. A., Jain, S., Petersen, I., & Lund, C. (2019). Social interventions: a new era for global mental health?. The Lancet Psychiatry(Link)

Contents:

Covid -19  Support

Men’s Health Week 2020

We offer our comments to suggested interventions for a new era for global mental health

The impact of Psychosocial factors on Mental Health and their implications in Life Insurance 

The Impact of Covid-19 unemployment on Men

Read more here

 

 

Read more

Situational Approach to Suicide Prevention MHIRC - Issue 20

The Situational Approach - A new approach to suicide prevention: This approach acknowledges the predominant association of situational distress, rather than mental illness, with suicide (though in some cases the two are linked), and is principally informed by and responds to risk factors of a broad spectrum of difficult human experiences across the life span. This approach is also mindful of and wherever possible seeks to address contextual, systemic, and socio-cultural risk and protective factors and determinants: the real world of individuals’ lived experience.

 Contents:

  • Men in Crisis – Are we helping or compounding their difficulties?
  • Mental Illness ideology
  • Consultation Paper for the National Preventive Health Strategy
  • Connect 2020 - A mental health and suicide prevention webinar series
  • Male Health Initiative – Evaluation Survey
Read the full content here

Read more

Situational Approach to Suicide Prevention MHIRC - Issue 15

We would like to acknowledge the challenging times we are all facing as a result of the emergence of COVID-19 in Australia. With the safety and well-being of our communities at front of mind, we are not encouraging the community events for Men’s Health Week this year in accordance with the current NSW Health recommendations. We will be announcing the alternative methods to campaign and promote Men’s Health Week soon with the anouncment of Theme of Men’s Health Week 2020. 

Contents

COVID-19 Global Men's Health update

A. Facts at a Glance

B. Information about these facts

Links to useful papers and resources:

References/Sources:

Read the bulletin here

Read more

National Suicide Prevention Taskforce Interim Advice

A call for a more compassionate, whole-of-government approach to suicide prevention that responds early to distress:

The Prime Minister publicly released the Interim Advice documents prepared to shape Australia’s suicide prevention approach. This will enable further consultation to occur over the coming weeks to inform the Final Advice. 

The Interim Advice consists of three interrelated reports: (1) Compassion First, detailing the experiences of people with lived experience of suicide; (2) Interim Advice Report containing 13 in-principle recommendations; and (3) Shifting the Focus, outlining a whole-of-government approach to suicide. 

Read the fullreport here

National FREE 24/7 Crisis Services

Lifeline | 13 11 14
Suicide Call Back Service | 1300 659 467
Kids Helpline | 1800 55 1800
MensLine Australia | 1300 78 99 78
Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Service | 1800 512 348

Read more

Communicating about suicide during a global pandemic

Communicating about suicide during a global pandemic: impact on journalists and media audiences - Alexandra Wake, Elizabeth PatonRebecca Pryor 

COVID-19 has brought with it an increase in predictions of mental ill-health and suicide impacts in Australia. For journalists, it has been a period not only of personal stress about their economic livelihoods and occupational safety, but also balancing providing up to date information about the pandemic with safe, sensitive and accurate reporting on associated suicide and mental health issues. Mindframe offers guidelines, resources and individualised support to help manage the complexities of reporting on suicide in this global pandemic, working with media to protect people in their audience who are vulnerable to suicide while also helping journalists protect their own mental health and well being. Read the full artcle here


Ask for help: 

Butterfly Foundation's National Helpline, ED HOPE, is a free, confidential service that provides information, counselling and treatment referral for people with eating disorders, and body image and related issues. Call 1800 33 4673, 8am-midnight AEST / 7 days a week.

eheadspace provides mental health and wellbeing support, information and services to young people aged 12 to 25 years and their families. Call 1800 650 890, 9am-1am AEST / 7 days a week.

Kids Helpline is Australia’s only free 24/7 confidential and private counseling service specifically for children and young people aged 5 to 25. Call 1800 55 1800.

Lifeline provides 24-hour crisis counselling, support groups and suicide prevention services. Call 13 11 14.

MensLine Australia is a professional telephone and online support and information service for Australian men. Call 1300 78 99 78, 24 hours / 7 days a week.



Read more

Suicidal behaviour among older aged Australians

Page et al. (2020): The impact of transitions from employment to retirement on suicidal behaviour among older aged Australians

Transition from employment to retirement may be an important precipitating factor for suicidal behaviour, affected by current and previous mental health status. Services and programs facilitating continued or re-employment in older age, and adjustment to the transition from employment to retirement may prevent suicidal behaviour. Read the full article here.




Read more

Are Farming-Related Suicides Different in Rural Australia?

Rural Australians experience a range of health inequities—including higher rates of suicide—when compared to the general population. This retrospective cohort study compares demographic characteristics and suicide death circumstances of farming- and non-farming-related suicides in rural Victoria with the aim of: (a) exploring the contributing factors to farming-related suicide in Australia’s largest agricultural producing state; and (b) examining whether farming-related suicides differ from suicide in rural communities. Farming-related suicide deaths were more likely to: (a) be employed at the time of death (52.6% vs. 37.7%, OR = 1.84, 95% CIs 1.28–2.64); and, (b) have died through use of a firearm (30.1% vs. 8.7%, OR = 4.51, 95% CIs 2.97–6.92). However, farming-related suicides were less likely to (a) have a diagnosed mental illness (36.1% vs. 46.1%, OR=0.66, 95% CIs 0.46–0.96) and, (b) have received mental health support more than six weeks prior to death (39.8% vs. 50.0%, OR = 0.66, 95% CIs 0.46–0.95). A range of suicide prevention strategies need adopting across all segments of the rural population irrespective of farming status. However, data from farming-related suicides highlight the need for targeted firearm-related suicide prevention measures and appropriate, tailored and accessible support services to support health, well-being and safety for members of farming communities. View Full-Text

Read more

Reducing distress in the community following the COVID-19

Suicide Prevention Australia and Wesley Mission are calling on government to provide increased support to Australians experiencing distress following the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Titled Reducing distress in the community following the COVID-19 pandemic, the new white paper highlights broader social and economic factors causing distress in the community: stepping away from a mental health specific approach.

“The COVID-19 pandemic is a unique health crisis and one that has touched the lives of thousands directly affected by the virus, as well as their loved ones”, said Nieves Murray, CEO of Suicide Prevention Australia.

Reducing distress in the community following the COVID-19 pandemic provides a roadmap of proposals to address the ongoing needs of people during and after the pandemic response measures.

Key recommendations include:

1. Increase the base rate of JobSeeker (NewStart) and extend JobKeeper past September.

2. Build domestic and family violence workforce capacity to screen for mental health issues and suicide risk.

3. Invest in mental health screening and a model of care for retirement villages.

4. Deliver a national survey into the impacts of COVID-19 on the mental health of Australians.

5. Fund screening and tailored suicide prevention training for frontline hospital staff faced with alcohol and other drug issues.

6. Extend the moratorium on evictions and address long-term housing and accommodation needs through the recovery phase of COVID-19.

7. Promote fact-based sources of information on COVID-19.

You can read the full white paper here

Read more

Suicide: Predicting The Unpredictable - By Medical Forum

Suicide prevention is the hardest in the hard basket, but data and strategic thinking are making the impossible seem possible.

Mental health is difficult: It’s difficult to diagnose, to treat, to predict and to understand. Suicide is beyond difficult as there are so many individual factors that lead to someone intentionally taking their life which makes it a uniquely problematic phenomenon to research.

This is reflected in the national suicide rate, which has gradually risen in the past 10 years. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), in 2008, suicide was the leading cause of death among people aged 15-44 in Australia.

Read the full article here.

Read more

Penrith Men's Walk & Talk

The weekly walk begins and ends at the Nepean River Coffee Club and follows the bridge to bridge Great River Walk which is about 6.4km long and takes around an hour and ten minutes. But there are no strict rules if you’re unable to walk the entire way or can’t stay the whole time. Watch the video here

Details:
When: Weekly on a Thursday
Time: 5pm for a 6pm sharp walk
Where: The Coffee Club, Nepean River
Cost: Free

Read more

Tackling the Challenge

For me, catching up with a group of mates on the weekend and and talking openly about my week is good for my mental health.” Andy Davies. 

Tackling the Challenge: Talking Local Men’s Health is a project looking to make a lasting and positive impact on local men’s familiarity and interaction of men’s health issues through the telling of local men’s stories of thriving in times of hardship. For more information about this project, please visit: http://www.wingecarribeehealthassociationformen.org/projects.htmlhttp://www.wingecarribeehealthassociationformen.org/projects.html 

For more information or to get involved contact:
Brendan Bennett
Mental Wellbeing Health Promotion Officer
South Western Sydney Local Health District
(02) 9616 4048
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Peter Van Dort
Wingecarribee Community Health Centre
(02) 4861 800

Read more

Situational Approach to Suicide Prevention MHIRC - Issue 12

The Situational Approach is being promoted by Mengage at MHIRC (WSU) and The Bulletin is published monthly.  Prepared by: Anthony Smith; Editor: Shravankumar Guntuku.

The Situational Approach - A new approach to suicide prevention: This approach acknowledges the predominant association of situational distress, rather than mental illness, with suicide (though in some cases the two are linked), and is principally informed by and responds to risk factors of a broad spectrum of difficult human experiences across the life span. This approach is also mindful of and wherever possible seeks to address: contextual, systemic, and socio-cultural risk and protective factors and determinants: the real world of individuals’ lived experience.

Contents of this issue:

WHO Report: Mental health, resilience and inequalities                                                                        
The impact of socioeconomic factors on mental health and the case for collective action              
The social determinants of mental health: an overview and call to action.                                      
Dying from Inequality – Samaritans Report UK 2017                                                                                   
In our Words – Launch of the Booklet of Stories from “The Shed in Mt. Druitt” on International Men’s Day

Read the full article here

Read more

Situational Approach to Suicide Prevention MHIRC - Issue 11

The Situational Approach - A new approach to suicide prevention: This approach acknowledges the predominant association of situational distress, rather than mental illness, with suicide (though in some cases the two are linked), and is principally informed by and responds to risk factors of a broad spectrum of difficult human experiences across the life span. This approach is also mindful of and wherever possible seeks to address: contextual, systemic, and socio-cultural risk and protective factors and determinants: the real world of individuals’ lived experience.

The approach is being promoted by Mengage at MHIRC (WSU)

The Situational Approach Bulletin is published monthly on Mengage.

Contents of this issue:

New Suicide Prevention Australia (SPA) Report confirms the importance of the Situational Approach

Language and the mental illness ideology

Belgium Leadership – challenging the mental illness ideology

It’s Time to Stop Blaming Men for Their Mental Health Woes

Situational Approach to Suicide Prevention MHIRC. WSU Prepared by Anthony Smith; Edited by Shravankumar Guntuku, Read the full article here

Read more

Every life: The Queensland Suicide Prevention Plan 2019-2029

Every life: The Queensland Suicide Prevention Plan 2019-2029 (Every life) was launched on World Suicide Prevention Day, 10 September 2019, by the Hon Dr Steven Miles, Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services.

Every life, a renewed whole-of-government approach to suicide prevention, outlines Queensland Government led actions which aim to bring about a meaningful reduction in suicide over the next decade. Actions will engage government, non-government, community and private sectors partners. The plan, informed by extensive consultation with a broad range of stakeholders including people with a lived experience, is built across four areas:

  • •             Building resilience by improving wellbeing in our people and communities
  • •             Reducing vulnerability by strengthening support to vulnerable people
  • •             Enhancing responsiveness to suicidality
  • •             Working together to achieve more

Every life recognises that suicide is preventable and emphasises the vital importance of working together to reduce suicide. It acknowledges that effective suicide prevention requires responses beyond health services and must incorporate the voices of people with lived experience.

Understanding that change will take time, Every life is a 10-year plan with three distinct phases. Each phase will be reviewed and refreshed, with the second and third phases building on achievements and learnings from the previous phase.

Phase One has been backed by an $80.1 million commitment as part of the 2019 Queensland Budget, with investments in initiatives including mental health supports in schools, enhancements to crisis care, and community-led approaches to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth suicide prevention.

Read more

Situational Approach to Suicide Prevention; MHIRC - Issue 10

We are pleased to be able to say that we may be having some influence in how we think about suicide. As a result of people reading the Bulletin, we are being approached from people around the country to discuss and publicise our views. Two recent examples:

  1. September 2 we were featured in the Mercury (Hobart) newspaper https://www.themercury.com.au/news/opinion/talking-point-suicide-is-about-more-than-mental-illness/news-story/4eb34e82c4a90713e9910177d39614d2 You can access through the MHIRC Facebook link https://www.facebook.com/westsydumhirc

Talking Point: Suicide is about more than mental illness

  1. September 12 - a radio interview for Dads on the Air [to be aired Sept 12]
A Paradigm Shift in Suicide Prevention

Contents of this issue:

Publicity of the Situational Approach

Social Determinants of Mental Health

Men’s Mental Health

Harm from antidepressants

Read the full article here

Read more

In this edition of the Situational Approach Bulletin we take a closer look at the breakdown for our national figures for suicide deaths. We challenge the description of ‘mental disorder’ being applied to many of these deaths.

We call for a thorough review of how we collect and analyse our suicide data; important changes need to be made in this process if we are to make any inroads at all into reducing the mounting toll of suicide deaths.

 Contents:

  1. Men’s Health Week - 2020
  2. National data – Suicide Deaths
  3. ABS Table - Cause of Death
  4. Mood Disorders
Read the full content here

The Situational Approach - A new approach to suicide prevention: This approach acknowledges the predominant association of situational distress, rather than mental illness, with suicide (though in some cases the two are linked), and is principally informed by and responds to risk factors of a broad spectrum of difficult human experiences across the life span. This approach is also mindful of and wherever possible seeks to address contextual, systemic, and socio-cultural risk and protective factors and determinants: the real world of individuals’ lived experience.

 Contents:

  • Alliance for Situational Approach to Prevention of Suicide (ASAPS)
  • COVID-19, unemployment, and suicide
  • Suicide in Rural Australia: Are Farming-Related Suicides Different?
  • Connect 2020 - A mental health and suicide prevention webinar series
Read the full content here

The Situational Approach- A new approach to suicide prevention: This approach acknowledges the predominant association of situational distress, rather than mental illness, with suicide (though in some cases the two are linked), and is principally informed by and responds to risk factors of a broad spectrum of difficult human experiences across the life span. This approach is also mindful of and wherever possible seeks to address: contextual, systemic, and socio-cultural risk and protective factors and determinants: the real world of individuals’ lived experience.

 Contents:

1. COVID-19 and Mental Health CSI Response October 2020

2. Adverse Life Events and Suicide 
Editorial comment: There is a major discrepancy with the ABS data

3. Personal wellbeing and Covid 19 – The Mental Illness ideology out of control

4. Melbourne’s COVID-19 spike in antidepressant use may trigger suicides by children and adolescents

Read the full content here

The Situational Approach - A new approach to suicide prevention: This approach acknowledges the predominant association of situational distress, rather than mental illness, with suicide (though in some cases the two are linked), and is principally informed by and responds to risk factors of a broad spectrum of difficult human experiences across the life span. This approach is also mindful of and wherever possible seeks to address contextual, systemic, and socio-cultural risk and protective factors and determinants: the real world of individuals’ lived experience.

 Contents:

  • Men in Crisis – Are we helping or compounding their difficulties?
  • Mental Illness ideology
  • Consultation Paper for the National Preventive Health Strategy
  • Connect 2020 - A mental health and suicide prevention webinar series
  • Male Health Initiative – Evaluation Survey
Read the full content here

In this edition of the Situational Approach Bulletin we offer a few thoughts in response to a 2019 Discussion paper published in The Lancet Psychiatry

Social interventions: a new era for global mental health? 

Abstract:

The   recognition   of   the   relationship   between   socio­structural challenges and poor mental health  outcomes has    recently    taken    centre    stage    in    global    health    debates. Both the Lancet  Commission  on  global  mental  health  and  sustainable  development,1  and  UN  Special  Rapporteur   Dainius   Pūras’   report   on  mental   health have   reaffirmed   the   inseparability   of   mental   health   outcomes    from    macro­level    social   challenges    and    inequalities.

Burgess, R. A., Jain, S., Petersen, I., & Lund, C. (2019). Social interventions: a new era for global mental health?. The Lancet Psychiatry(Link)

Contents:

Covid -19  Support

Men’s Health Week 2020

We offer our comments to suggested interventions for a new era for global mental health

The impact of Psychosocial factors on Mental Health and their implications in Life Insurance 

The Impact of Covid-19 unemployment on Men

Read more here

 

 

We would like to acknowledge the challenging times we are all facing as a result of the emergence of COVID-19 in Australia. With the safety and well-being of our communities at front of mind, we are not encouraging the community events for Men’s Health Week this year in accordance with the current NSW Health recommendations. We will be announcing the alternative methods to campaign and promote Men’s Health Week soon with the anouncment of Theme of Men’s Health Week 2020. 

Contents

COVID-19 Global Men's Health update

A. Facts at a Glance

B. Information about these facts

Links to useful papers and resources:

References/Sources:

Read the bulletin here

A call for a more compassionate, whole-of-government approach to suicide prevention that responds early to distress:

The Prime Minister publicly released the Interim Advice documents prepared to shape Australia’s suicide prevention approach. This will enable further consultation to occur over the coming weeks to inform the Final Advice. 

The Interim Advice consists of three interrelated reports: (1) Compassion First, detailing the experiences of people with lived experience of suicide; (2) Interim Advice Report containing 13 in-principle recommendations; and (3) Shifting the Focus, outlining a whole-of-government approach to suicide. 

Read the fullreport here

National FREE 24/7 Crisis Services

Lifeline | 13 11 14
Suicide Call Back Service | 1300 659 467
Kids Helpline | 1800 55 1800
MensLine Australia | 1300 78 99 78
Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Service | 1800 512 348

Communicating about suicide during a global pandemic: impact on journalists and media audiences - Alexandra Wake, Elizabeth PatonRebecca Pryor 

COVID-19 has brought with it an increase in predictions of mental ill-health and suicide impacts in Australia. For journalists, it has been a period not only of personal stress about their economic livelihoods and occupational safety, but also balancing providing up to date information about the pandemic with safe, sensitive and accurate reporting on associated suicide and mental health issues. Mindframe offers guidelines, resources and individualised support to help manage the complexities of reporting on suicide in this global pandemic, working with media to protect people in their audience who are vulnerable to suicide while also helping journalists protect their own mental health and well being. Read the full artcle here


Ask for help: 

Butterfly Foundation's National Helpline, ED HOPE, is a free, confidential service that provides information, counselling and treatment referral for people with eating disorders, and body image and related issues. Call 1800 33 4673, 8am-midnight AEST / 7 days a week.

eheadspace provides mental health and wellbeing support, information and services to young people aged 12 to 25 years and their families. Call 1800 650 890, 9am-1am AEST / 7 days a week.

Kids Helpline is Australia’s only free 24/7 confidential and private counseling service specifically for children and young people aged 5 to 25. Call 1800 55 1800.

Lifeline provides 24-hour crisis counselling, support groups and suicide prevention services. Call 13 11 14.

MensLine Australia is a professional telephone and online support and information service for Australian men. Call 1300 78 99 78, 24 hours / 7 days a week.



Page et al. (2020): The impact of transitions from employment to retirement on suicidal behaviour among older aged Australians

Transition from employment to retirement may be an important precipitating factor for suicidal behaviour, affected by current and previous mental health status. Services and programs facilitating continued or re-employment in older age, and adjustment to the transition from employment to retirement may prevent suicidal behaviour. Read the full article here.




Rural Australians experience a range of health inequities—including higher rates of suicide—when compared to the general population. This retrospective cohort study compares demographic characteristics and suicide death circumstances of farming- and non-farming-related suicides in rural Victoria with the aim of: (a) exploring the contributing factors to farming-related suicide in Australia’s largest agricultural producing state; and (b) examining whether farming-related suicides differ from suicide in rural communities. Farming-related suicide deaths were more likely to: (a) be employed at the time of death (52.6% vs. 37.7%, OR = 1.84, 95% CIs 1.28–2.64); and, (b) have died through use of a firearm (30.1% vs. 8.7%, OR = 4.51, 95% CIs 2.97–6.92). However, farming-related suicides were less likely to (a) have a diagnosed mental illness (36.1% vs. 46.1%, OR=0.66, 95% CIs 0.46–0.96) and, (b) have received mental health support more than six weeks prior to death (39.8% vs. 50.0%, OR = 0.66, 95% CIs 0.46–0.95). A range of suicide prevention strategies need adopting across all segments of the rural population irrespective of farming status. However, data from farming-related suicides highlight the need for targeted firearm-related suicide prevention measures and appropriate, tailored and accessible support services to support health, well-being and safety for members of farming communities. View Full-Text

Suicide Prevention Australia and Wesley Mission are calling on government to provide increased support to Australians experiencing distress following the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Titled Reducing distress in the community following the COVID-19 pandemic, the new white paper highlights broader social and economic factors causing distress in the community: stepping away from a mental health specific approach.

“The COVID-19 pandemic is a unique health crisis and one that has touched the lives of thousands directly affected by the virus, as well as their loved ones”, said Nieves Murray, CEO of Suicide Prevention Australia.

Reducing distress in the community following the COVID-19 pandemic provides a roadmap of proposals to address the ongoing needs of people during and after the pandemic response measures.

Key recommendations include:

1. Increase the base rate of JobSeeker (NewStart) and extend JobKeeper past September.

2. Build domestic and family violence workforce capacity to screen for mental health issues and suicide risk.

3. Invest in mental health screening and a model of care for retirement villages.

4. Deliver a national survey into the impacts of COVID-19 on the mental health of Australians.

5. Fund screening and tailored suicide prevention training for frontline hospital staff faced with alcohol and other drug issues.

6. Extend the moratorium on evictions and address long-term housing and accommodation needs through the recovery phase of COVID-19.

7. Promote fact-based sources of information on COVID-19.

You can read the full white paper here

Suicide prevention is the hardest in the hard basket, but data and strategic thinking are making the impossible seem possible.

Mental health is difficult: It’s difficult to diagnose, to treat, to predict and to understand. Suicide is beyond difficult as there are so many individual factors that lead to someone intentionally taking their life which makes it a uniquely problematic phenomenon to research.

This is reflected in the national suicide rate, which has gradually risen in the past 10 years. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), in 2008, suicide was the leading cause of death among people aged 15-44 in Australia.

Read the full article here.

The weekly walk begins and ends at the Nepean River Coffee Club and follows the bridge to bridge Great River Walk which is about 6.4km long and takes around an hour and ten minutes. But there are no strict rules if you’re unable to walk the entire way or can’t stay the whole time. Watch the video here

Details:
When: Weekly on a Thursday
Time: 5pm for a 6pm sharp walk
Where: The Coffee Club, Nepean River
Cost: Free

For me, catching up with a group of mates on the weekend and and talking openly about my week is good for my mental health.” Andy Davies. 

Tackling the Challenge: Talking Local Men’s Health is a project looking to make a lasting and positive impact on local men’s familiarity and interaction of men’s health issues through the telling of local men’s stories of thriving in times of hardship. For more information about this project, please visit: http://www.wingecarribeehealthassociationformen.org/projects.htmlhttp://www.wingecarribeehealthassociationformen.org/projects.html 

For more information or to get involved contact:
Brendan Bennett
Mental Wellbeing Health Promotion Officer
South Western Sydney Local Health District
(02) 9616 4048
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Peter Van Dort
Wingecarribee Community Health Centre
(02) 4861 800

The Situational Approach is being promoted by Mengage at MHIRC (WSU) and The Bulletin is published monthly.  Prepared by: Anthony Smith; Editor: Shravankumar Guntuku.

The Situational Approach - A new approach to suicide prevention: This approach acknowledges the predominant association of situational distress, rather than mental illness, with suicide (though in some cases the two are linked), and is principally informed by and responds to risk factors of a broad spectrum of difficult human experiences across the life span. This approach is also mindful of and wherever possible seeks to address: contextual, systemic, and socio-cultural risk and protective factors and determinants: the real world of individuals’ lived experience.

Contents of this issue:

WHO Report: Mental health, resilience and inequalities                                                                        
The impact of socioeconomic factors on mental health and the case for collective action              
The social determinants of mental health: an overview and call to action.                                      
Dying from Inequality – Samaritans Report UK 2017                                                                                   
In our Words – Launch of the Booklet of Stories from “The Shed in Mt. Druitt” on International Men’s Day

Read the full article here

The Situational Approach - A new approach to suicide prevention: This approach acknowledges the predominant association of situational distress, rather than mental illness, with suicide (though in some cases the two are linked), and is principally informed by and responds to risk factors of a broad spectrum of difficult human experiences across the life span. This approach is also mindful of and wherever possible seeks to address: contextual, systemic, and socio-cultural risk and protective factors and determinants: the real world of individuals’ lived experience.

The approach is being promoted by Mengage at MHIRC (WSU)

The Situational Approach Bulletin is published monthly on Mengage.

Contents of this issue:

New Suicide Prevention Australia (SPA) Report confirms the importance of the Situational Approach

Language and the mental illness ideology

Belgium Leadership – challenging the mental illness ideology

It’s Time to Stop Blaming Men for Their Mental Health Woes

Situational Approach to Suicide Prevention MHIRC. WSU Prepared by Anthony Smith; Edited by Shravankumar Guntuku, Read the full article here

Every life: The Queensland Suicide Prevention Plan 2019-2029 (Every life) was launched on World Suicide Prevention Day, 10 September 2019, by the Hon Dr Steven Miles, Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services.

Every life, a renewed whole-of-government approach to suicide prevention, outlines Queensland Government led actions which aim to bring about a meaningful reduction in suicide over the next decade. Actions will engage government, non-government, community and private sectors partners. The plan, informed by extensive consultation with a broad range of stakeholders including people with a lived experience, is built across four areas:

  • •             Building resilience by improving wellbeing in our people and communities
  • •             Reducing vulnerability by strengthening support to vulnerable people
  • •             Enhancing responsiveness to suicidality
  • •             Working together to achieve more

Every life recognises that suicide is preventable and emphasises the vital importance of working together to reduce suicide. It acknowledges that effective suicide prevention requires responses beyond health services and must incorporate the voices of people with lived experience.

Understanding that change will take time, Every life is a 10-year plan with three distinct phases. Each phase will be reviewed and refreshed, with the second and third phases building on achievements and learnings from the previous phase.

Phase One has been backed by an $80.1 million commitment as part of the 2019 Queensland Budget, with investments in initiatives including mental health supports in schools, enhancements to crisis care, and community-led approaches to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth suicide prevention.

We are pleased to be able to say that we may be having some influence in how we think about suicide. As a result of people reading the Bulletin, we are being approached from people around the country to discuss and publicise our views. Two recent examples:

  1. September 2 we were featured in the Mercury (Hobart) newspaper https://www.themercury.com.au/news/opinion/talking-point-suicide-is-about-more-than-mental-illness/news-story/4eb34e82c4a90713e9910177d39614d2 You can access through the MHIRC Facebook link https://www.facebook.com/westsydumhirc

Talking Point: Suicide is about more than mental illness

  1. September 12 - a radio interview for Dads on the Air [to be aired Sept 12]
A Paradigm Shift in Suicide Prevention

Contents of this issue:

Publicity of the Situational Approach

Social Determinants of Mental Health

Men’s Mental Health

Harm from antidepressants

Read the full article here

The Situational Approach - A new approach to suicide prevention: This approach acknowledges the predominant association of situational distress, rather than mental illness, with suicide (though in some cases the two are linked), and is principally informed by and responds to risk factors of a broad spectrum of difficult human experiences across the life span. This approach is also mindful of and wherever possible seeks to address: contextual, systemic, and socio-cultural risk and protective factors and determinants: the real world of individuals’ lived experience.

The approach is being promoted by Mengage at MHIRC (WSU) and we welcome the words of the newly appointed National Suicide Prevention Adviser, Ms, Christine Morgan, quoted in the SMH (July 15th) as saying:

"We have to look further upstream, right away from the immediate suicide crisis. Are there things happening to people that we can work on that might stop them. Let's take ourselves outside health and look at some of the other risk factors and see if by addressing those we get some change."

MHIRC runs a drop in centre for Suicide prevention in Western Sydney on this basis and is looking for other projects with this approach.

The Situational Approach Bulletin is published monthly on Mengage.

Contents of this issue:

  1. International confirmation of key tenets of the ‘Situational Approach’
  2. UN statement challenging ‘biomedical model of ‘mental health’
  3. Belgium – Superior Health Council
  4. PsychWatch
  • Latest blogs
  • Seven year old girl on antidepressants

Also

In our Words - Charles

Read the full article here 

Welcome to the ninth edition of our Situational Approach to Suicide Prevention Bulletin.We welcome feedback, and would of course be very happy to have a conversation with any people or organisations who are working in this vital area.

 
 

Contents of this issue:

Welcoming Ms. Christine Morgan as National Suicide Prevention Adviser

Challenging the ADHD consensus

It’s not mental illness but despair

PsychWatch Australia - Scrutinising Mental Health Policy + Practice

The Global ‘Mental Health’ Movement – Cause For Concern

Resources – youcanhelp

In Our Words

 

Read the full artcle here

 

 

 

Contents of this issue:

Mortality of People Using Mental Health system and Prescription Medications

Medicalisation-nation: Australia’s growing public policy dependence on drugs

Primary Health Networks caught between a rock and a hard place

How big pharma gets what it wants

Mental Health Concerns Not “Brain Disorders,” Say Researchers

Launch of Mad in Sweden

In Our Words - Buddy

Read the full content here

Contents of this issue:

Men’s Health Week: 2019

The Situational Approach on the International Stage

GP training in the UK

Mental Health and Children

- The alarming impact of the diagnostically-based paradigm of care on children

- Antidepressants increase the risk of suicidal thinking and behavior (suicidality) in children

Suicidality in Children and Adolescents Being Treated With Antidepressant Medications

“Mental Health Awareness” and Schoolchildren

Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Literacy - ADVOCATING FOR A NE W MUL TI-SECTOR AND MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH

Read Full article here

Situational Approach to Suicide Prevention MHIRC. WSU ed Anthony Smith - Bulletin no. 4

Contents of this issue:

A Strong Mission Statement for Mad In the UK

Community-led solutions are key to reducing Aboriginal youth suicide

Meta-analysis Finds Asking About Suicidal Thoughts Does Not Predict Suicide

Scholars Respond to the APA’s Guidance for Treating Men and Boys

Leadership coming from the Sporting Journalism

The Shed – Mt Druitt: In Our Words

Read the full article here

 

Welcome to the third edition of our Situational Approach to Suicide Prevention Bulletin. We are hopeful of a big 2019; certainly the response to the Situational Approach on the international stage is very encouraging.

Contents of this issue:

  • The Situational Approach on the International Stage
        Health Specialist training in UK
        'Madness of our Mental Health System’ published in Mad in America
  • Suicide and mental disorders: A discourse of politics, power, and vested interests
  • Communications and mass media – suicide prevention and mental health literacy 
Read the full bulletin here. 

Welcome to the first edition of our Situational Approach to Suicide Prevention Bulletin. MHIRC is part of a growing movement promoting a different way of thinking and acting to slow the alarming rate of suicide.

The increase in Australia's suicide rate is a tragedy that needs to be met with proven responses across crisis, early intervention and prevention initiatives. This new approach seeks to prevent suicide by paying particular attention to the social/situational factors that lead to suicide - such as unemployment, family breakdown, isolation, dispossession and trauma.

We welcome feedback, and would of course be very happy to have conversation with any people or organisations who are working in this vital area.

Please click on this link to access the Bulletin Issue 1 November 2018

suicideprevention logo This document is Suicide Prevention Australia's position on the interaction between drugs, alcohol and suicide. It is acknowledged that the presence of alcohol and drugs can heighten the likelihood of suicide or suicidal feelings. 

"The recognition of AOD abuse as a mental illness remains poorly understood by the public and policy makers..."
Read more: Suicide Prevention Australia: Position Paper On Alcohol, Drugs and Suicide Prevention

LIFE

The Life Framework (Living Is For Everyone) is a program based in WA that aims to support people in life with a significant evidence base.

The LIFE Framework is a National Suicide Prevention Strategy project managed by Crisis Support Services on behalf of the Department of Health and Ageing. The project aims to improve access to suicide and self-harm prevention activities in Australia through the promotion of the LIFE resources and website and improve communication between suicide prevention stakeholders in Australia.

Read more: LIFE: Evidence On Suicide And Men

john ashfield

This booklet contains information for Indigenous and Non-Indigenous health professionals, community leaders and key community members seeking to gain better knowledge about suicide prevention in Aboriginal communities. 

Life expectancy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men is on average 11 years shorter, and they suffer worse health outcomes than Non-Indigenous men. MENGAGE fully supports the work of John Ashfield, PhD improving efforts in suicide prevention for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men.

Read more: John Ashfield PhD: Preventing Suicide in Indigenous Communities

Men and Suicide Research Report 270912 1 This UK report provides an extensive overview of the many of the factors that lead to a man's suicide, and as such it offers a detailed and extensive overview of causes and factors.

Middle age is often reported as a time of particular stress for men (and women). The combination of rising stresses imposed by dynamics around careers, family, personal life experiences and many other factors can contribute to a feeling of being 'stuck by your choices' - too hard to change direction yet still so much to live for.

Read more: The Samaritans: Men, Suicide And Society: Why Disadvantaged Men Die By Suicide

suicide prevention au logo Despite rising rates of suicide, it is only relatively recently that interest has been directed towards the relationship between suicide and geographical location. As a consequence, several studies have demonstrated that notable differences exist between urban-rural suicide rates.

"Improved mental health literacy, accessibility of services and resources, and coordinated initiatives that encourage help-seeking remain central to minimising the risk of suicide..."
Read more: Suicide Prevention Australia: Position Paper On Suicide In Rural Australia

amhf logo While men account for 75.7% of all suicides, the majority of time, money and energy invested in researching and preventing suicide fails to target male suicide. The Australian Men's Health Forum recommends male-friendly approaches to suicide in Australia.

"Suicide kills six men a day in Australia. It is the leading killer of men and boys under 45 and claims more lives than road traffic accidents..."
Read more: AMHF: The Need For Male-Friendly Approaches to Suicide Prevention in Australia...

MHIRC 2Western Sydney University: Pathways to Despair: The Social Determinants of Male Suicide In 2010, the Men's Health Information and Resource Centre was commissioned to investigate the causes and factors behind male suicides on the NSW Central Coast. This report uncovers the stories from survivors and families of men who took their own lives.
Read more: Western Sydney University: Pathways to Despair: The Social Determinants of Male Suicide

Manzies For a thorough overview of suicide in Indigenous populations, this review provides a useful context and detailed information.

In analysing deaths from suicide in Aboriginal people, one is struck by the great disparity between the genders but particularly by the huge peak of young Aboriginal men that peaks from about 20-35 years of age that take their own lives.

Read more: Menzies School Of Research: Indigenous Suicide Discussion Paper

menswatchAIMHS: Menswatch Promoting Male Mental Health & Suicide Prevention A new end-to-end approach to suicide prevention is urgently needed to stem the increasing numbers of male suicides in Australia, and more effective support needs to be provided to men in distress.

"Deaths due to suicide significantly exceed fatalities from motor vehicle accidents and homicides combined."
Read more: AIMHS: Menswatch Promoting Male Mental Health & Suicide Prevention

Ireland Suicide The overarching aim of this study was to obtain a comprehensive understanding of suicidal behaviour amongst men aged 16-34 to underpin the provision of accessible, acceptable and appropriate mental health services

"Part of providing pro-active, community level service provision should be embedded in manifestly non 'mental health' contexts..."

mckenna 1The trend of male suicides in Northern Ireland follows a pattern that is consistent with that has been experienced in Australia.  Suicide rates remained relatively static in the first half of the 20th Century but increased significantly thereafter.  In Northern Ireland, suicides increased by 64% between 1999 and 2008, accounted largely by increases in suicides among males in the 15-34 age group. In 2008, almost 77% of suicides were by males.

Read more: Public Health Agency: Using Young Men's Experiences To Inform Mental Health Services

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