Online Training Available for Suicide Prevention Professionals
Australians who have attempted or are at risk of suicide or self-harm will benefit from an updated and expanded online training package produced as part of the Australian Government efforts to tackle suicide.
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Joint Release
The Hon Mark Butler MP
Minister for Mental Health and Ageing
Minister for Social Inclusion
Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Mental Health Reform
Yvette D'Ath MP
Member for Petrie
3 May 2012Australians who have attempted or are at risk of suicide or self-harm will benefit from an updated and expanded online training package produced as part of Gillard Government efforts to tackle suicide.
Minister for Mental Health and Ageing Mark Butler and Member for Petrie Yvette D’Ath today launched the training package during a visit to the Metro North Brisbane Medicare Local.
“The package has been updated and expanded to ensure health workers have the right skills to support people who have attempted or are at risk of suicide or self-harm,” Mr Butler said.
“It comprises a foundation training module, which introduces suicide and suicidal behaviour, and three advanced modules that cover risk assessment and crisis intervention, working with particular populations at high risk of suicide, and referrals and self-care.”
Member for Petrie Yvette D’Ath congratulated the Metro North Medicare Local, one of the first in the country to pilot the training package.
“As well as being one of the first organisations to pilot the training package, the Metro North Brisbane Medicare Local contributed to the final product which we launched today,” Ms D’Ath said.
“This will mean that local psychologists, mental health nurses and social workers will receive up-to-date and high quality training in suicide prevention.”
The revised training is now available online and can be accessed through the Australian Psychological Society (APS), which developed the original version of the package in 2008 and oversaw its recent revision.
The training is mandatory for allied health professionals engaged to deliver services under the Access to Allied Psychological Services (ATAPS) Suicide Prevention Service initiative and is provided free of charge for these providers.
The Australian Government has provided around $40 million over the five years from 2011-12 to provide suicide prevention services through ATAPS to more than 40,000 people referred by their GP or the local hospital accident and emergency department.
The funding is part of $2.2 billion the Australian Government committed over five years for new and expanded initiatives to reform the mental health system.
The Government has also funded the APS and the Australian Indigenous Psychologists Association to develop culturally appropriate suicide prevention training for allied health professionals and administrators delivering and supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander suicide prevention services in the Kimberley region.
This online training builds on the suicide prevention training package developed for ATAPS providers and will be used to support Boab Health Services which has received Australian Government funding of $447,000 to deliver the suicide prevention services.
Aboriginal health services, hospitals and drug and alcohol services across the Kimberley that have linkages with Boab Health Services will also have access to the training.
Suicide Prevention Professional Development Training
For more information, contact the minister’s office on 02 6277 7280
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