Suicide Prevention

Suicide prevention is a shared focus of the Victorian Government Department of Health and Human Services and the Primary Health Networks, an Australian Government initiative. 

As part of the Victorian Suicide Prevention Framework, the Victorian Government aims to halve the rate of suicide in Victoria by 2025. 

As a commissioning body, SEMPHN funds services and activities that aim to prevent suicide across the catchment; services to support those who have attempted suicide; and services to support those affected by suicide. 

Place-based suicide prevention trials

SEMPHN and the Victorian Government are working together on place-based suicide prevention trials across three local government areas: City of Greater Dandenong, City of Frankston, and Mornington Peninsula Shire. 

A place-based approach recognises that people and places are inter-related, and that the places where people live and spend their time affect their health and wellbeing.

Why is this service needed?

SEMPHN is committed to reducing the rates of suicide and suicide attempts across its catchment area, especially in Frankston, Dandenong and the Mornington Peninsula.

Who have we commissioned?

Commissioned services as part of the suicide prevention trials include:

For communities:

• Roses in the Ocean is commissioned to deliver workshops for people with lived experience of suicide. These workshops support people to share their stories, inform their communities about the impact of suicide, and educate others about suicide prevention. In addition, Roses in the Ocean are working with the South Sudanese Community in Greater Dandenong through the TouchPoints workshops to build capacity skills in suicide awareness and response. 
  
  
• Hope Assistance Local Tradies (HALT) is commissioned to engage people in the trades who have a higher risk of suicide. Engagement activities include breakfast events for tradies, promoting access to service providers, informing local providers to ensure there is capacity to provide support, and linking tradies to more training or local engagement activities. 

For health professionals:

• Spectrum Personality Disorder Service for Victoria is commissioned to enhance the capacity of health professionals to support patients diagnosed, or likely to be diagnosed, with Borderline Personality Disorder, who are at risk of suicide. The initiative has provided training for general practitioners and allied health practitioners and support for families and carers. 

To read more about the Place-Based Suicide Prevention trials and other activities taking place in Dandenong and the Frankston-Mornington Peninsula, click here. 

Support after suicide

Every death by suicide is a tragedy. For every suicide there are many more people – family, friends, carers, colleagues and communities – who are deeply affected. This is the ripple effect of suicide. It is important to note that knowing someone who has died by suicide, in turn, increases the individual risk of suicide. This is why SEMPHN commissions services to support people bereaved by suicide.

Who have we commissioned?

Jesuit Social Services (JSS) is commissioned to deliver the Support After Suicide Program which provides counselling to those bereaved by suicide including children, young people, men and families.

In addition, the program supports health professionals, agencies and communities to respond effectively and appropriately to people bereaved by suicide. 

JSS is commissioned to deliver this service from July 2016 to June 2021.

Commissioning opportunities

To hear about future commissioning opportunities, subscribe to our commissioning newsletter SEMaphore and register via eProcure here.

For general information or queries about commissioning, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Seeking urgent help

The South Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network exists to build the capacity and understanding of the primary health system to enable improved health outcomes for individuals within its region. We don't provide clinical services for people in crisis.

If you, or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call 000, visit your nearest hospital emergency or use any of the crisis helplines

Lifeline
13 11 14 - 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention services.

Suicide Call Back Service
1300 659 467 - 24/7 telephone crisis support for people at risk of suicide, carers and bereaved, as well as online resources and information.

Kids Helpline
1800 55 1800 - 24/7 telephone counselling for young people 5-25 years.

MensLine Australia
1300 78 99 78 - 24/7 telephone and online support, information and referral service for men.

beyondblue
1300 22 4636 - 24/7 telephone support service and online chat 4pm - 10pm (AEST).

Further Information

If you would like to know more about suicide prevention these sites provide current policy, research, resources and more general information.

• Victorian Suicide Prevention Framework 2016-2025
• National Suicide Prevention Strategy 2015
• National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Strategy 2013
• Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Evaluation Project Report 2016
• National LGBTI Mental Health Suicide Prevention Strategy 2016
• Everymind prioritises prevention approaches to reduce the prevalence and impact of mental ill-health and suicide.
• Suicide Prevention Australia
• Blackdog Institute Lifespan Model

Associated tags

• commissioning
• suicide prevention