Central Victorian leaders are hopeful the knowledge gained from an expanded suicide prevention trial will help those closer to home.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
But they have voiced their disappointment at missing out on the opportunity to be involved in the federal government’s $46 million program.
Health Minister Greg Hunt’s announcement of four additional trial sites earlier this week brought the total number to 12.
Only one is in Victoria – the North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network, which encompasses Macedon Ranges.
Most of the local government areas in the PHN region are within metropolitan Melbourne, with the exception of Moorabool, and parts of Hume.
They include Brimbank, Darebin, Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong, Melbourne, Melton, Moonee Valley, Moorabool, Moreland, Wyndham, Yarra.
The other 11 sites included in the federal trial include Perth South, Brisbane North; North Coast NSW; Townsville; The Kimberley region; Tasmania; regional South Australia; Darwin; Western NSW; country WA; and Central Queensland, Wide Bay, Sunshine Coast PHN.
Each of the 12 sites was chosen because it had higher than average suicide rates, had the infrastructure and capability to deliver the trial, and was distanced from other similar initiatives.
The premature mortality rate in the Macedon Ranges is 15.8, according to the North Western Melbourne PHN website.
The national average is 12.4. The figure takes into account suicide and self-inflicted injuries.
Lifeline Central Victoria and Mallee chief executive officer Leo Schultz welcomed the federal trial, and was hopeful it would lead to more a consistent and evidence-based approach to suicide prevention strategies.
Though disappointed the pilot program would not directly involve Bendigo, at this stage, he said there was the possibility the program would be rolled out more broadly after the pilot was complete.
Sites will each receive about $3 million in funding and will be involved in the trial for three years.
Primary Health Networks will administer the funding.
Murray Primary Health Network chief executive officer Matt Jones was pleased both the federal and stage governments were becoming more involved in suicide prevention.
The state government has also initiated a suicide prevention trial, which has 12 trial sites.
Mildura, Benalla and Macedon Ranges were identified in the Murray PHN region.
“Even though we don’t have specific funding for every local government in our region, we are working with them,” Mr Jones said.
He said there was a lot of scope to better understand the factors contributing to suicide, and suicide prevention.
More than 3000 Australians die by suicide each year, and the suicide rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders is about twice that of non-Indigenous people.
“As a community we must do all we can to turn the tide and reduce our suicide rate,” Mr Hunt said.
Federal Member for Bendigo Lisa Chesters was disappointed that Bendigo and the Loddon Murray Mallee region had missed out on extra funding.
“A number of local schools have said to me that there was a need locally to expand the Bendigo Headspace services,” she said.
“Many of them are keen to form partnerships and have Headspace in their schools but Headspace simply don’t have the resources.”
She said Bendigo would have been well-positioned to deliver the trial, as a mental health services hub for the region.
“When someone puts their hand up to ask for help they should not be put on a waiting list. By the time they reach the top of the list it could be too late,” Ms Chesters said.
“The federal government needs to increase funding to our local Primary health Network and mental health services in our region.”
For 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention services, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit www.lifeline.org.au/gethelp