Place-based suicide prevention trials

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

SEMPHN, in partnership with the Victorian Government, is supporting communities to reduce the incidence of suicide through a coordinated place-based approach to suicide prevention across the local government areas of Greater Dandenong and Frankston Mornington Peninsula Region.  

What does place-based mean?

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.

This type of approach focuses on local needs and local priorities, engages the community as an active partner in developing solutions, and maximises value by leveraging multiple networks, investments and activities to deliver the best outcomes for communities. 

How does it work?

Each community establishes their own suite of responses, with support from SEMPHN, based on their local need and local capacity. 

Each of the place-based trials have established an Advisory group which provides guidance and input into the development of local suicide prevention action plans. The Advisory groups meet quarterly.

These collective efforts are guided by a robust state-wide operating model, evaluation approach and other relevant frameworks. 

The LifeSpan model, developed by the Black Dog Institute has been foundational to guiding the PHN in this work. Lifespan is an integrated approach to suicide prevention that combines nine strategies with strong evidence bases into a single model.

Place-based suicide prevention trials in south eastern Melbourne

Multiple initiatives have been undertaken to build capacity across the service system and in local communities.  

Activities across south eastern Melbourne

SEMPHN has commissioned a number of services as part of the trials including:

  • Roses in the Ocean is commissioned to deliver workshops for people with lived experience of suicide and the TouchPoints workshops to build capacity skills with the South Sudanese community in Greater Dandenong.
  • Hope Assistance Local Tradies (HALT) is commissioned to engage people in the trades who have a higher risk of suicide. 
  • 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. 

For more information about commissioned services for suicide prevention, click here. 

Activities in Dandenong

SEMPHN has been listening, learning and working with leaders from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities to reduce the number of suicides among groups and individuals with a higher risk of suicidality.  

Multiple initiatives have been undertaken to build capacity across the service system and in local communities. A range of initiatives in Dandenong include:

  • Development of a postvention (after suicide) response protocol to provide dedicated support to individuals bereaved by the loss of a loved one.  
  • Establishment of a Refugee and People Seeking Asylum Suicide Prevention Taskforce.
  • Tailored training to address the needs of new and emerging communities. 
  • Building capacity of community-based services to support individuals at risk of suicide and strengthening referral pathways across the service system.
  • Development of a whole-of-community and service system response plan for the South Sudanese community.

Activities across Frankston-Morning Peninsula (FMP)

A range of initiatives across Frankston-Mornington Peninsula include:

  • Quarterly meetings taking place with the Frankston and Mornington Peninsula Place Based Suicide Prevention Trial Advisory Committee.
  • Monthly meetings taking place to support and contribute to the FMP Suicide Prevention Network Chasing Change.
  • Collaboration with Peninsula Health HOPE Trial.

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.

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Suicide Prevention

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