PERSPECTIVE: Improving Suicide Prevention Strategies and Interventions: A Co-produced Perspective

Abstract

Background: Suicide continues to be a major problem worldwide. Persons with a lived experience are being actively involved in suicide research and reports suggest that co-production of suicide research with persons with a lived experience significantly improves its quality and appropriateness.

Aims of the study: The aims of this paper are (i) To identify challenges to Australian suicide prevention strategies and interventions and (ii) To offer recommendations to address these challenges.

Methods: This perspective article is a co-production between an experienced mental health researcher and a person with a lived experience of suicidality, who has worked as a suicide prevention worker and has held leadership positions in government and non-government suicide prevention programs.

Results: Challenges to Australian suicide prevention strategies and interventions include: the careless reporting of suicide in the media, the continuing stigma in seeking help, stigma as a barrier to gatekeeper training, the entry point of suicide prevention services and care of those with suicidal ideation/attempt. Recommendations include: that media must consider the responsible reporting of suicide as a duty of care; that the community response to help-seeking for suicide needs to be one of compassion; that gatekeeper training should be expanded to be universally accessible and messaging in suicide prevention training programs must pay attention to its rationale; that services for those with suicide ideation and attempt must commence with providing a safe space and empathetic support by peer workers and that continuing care after suicidal attempt must be informed by the individual's needs and include informal and family carers, as well as other community agencies.

Discussion: Stigma related to suicide continues to be a major barrier to help seeking and suicide prevention training. The approach to suicide prevention and intervention services needs to focus on stigma reduction, responsible reporting by media and a person-centred approach to care. The perspectives identified here are by no means comprehensive but are merely our observations that we believe, need attention.

Implications for health care provision and use: These perspectives have implications for the early identification and assistance of those at risk of suicide in the community as well as for suicide intervention services.

Implications for health policies: These perspectives have implications for policies related to public health education including the expansion of gatekeeper training, journalism and media, as well as national and state suicide prevention strategies.

Implications for further research: Further research might focus on suicide related stigma reduction measures within communities, improved suicide intervention services, and continuation of care following suicide attempts.