Wellways will work closely with the community to facilitate and support suicide prevention activities across the Townsville region including Burdekin, Palm Island, Hinchinbrook, Flinders, Richmond, Charters Towers, and Cardwell, and across the Mackay region including Whitsunday, and Isaac regions, including rural and remote areas.
Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN) Chief Executive Officer Robin Whyte said Wellways was selected as the lead agency following a robust tendering process.
“Suicide prevention is a complex issue and given the diversity and geographic locations across the Townsville and Mackay regions, there is a real need for a structured approach to the facilitation of community-focused suicide prevention planning,” Ms Whyte said.
“We are pleased to be working with Wellways to continue this important work, which is heavily led by the local communities.
“A key priority for NQPHN is to encourage and promote a regional approach to mental health and suicide prevention, including community-driven activities,” Ms Whyte said.
Wellways Chief Executive Officer Laura Collister said the experienced suicide prevention team was looking forward to working closely with the local community to strengthen and integrate community responses to suicide.
“We are excited to have successfully become the lead agency for the ongoing development of the SPCAP in the Townsville and Burdekin regions,” she said.
“Our proposed service model will focus on suicide prevention coordination, using a community development model and shared resources. In partnership with community-based networks, we will focus on connecting existing services and supports, while promoting education and training.”
The SPCAPs program is based on the Black Dog Institute’s LifeSpan framework, an evidence-based systems approach to integrated suicide prevention strategies and is delivered in alignment with the national Primary Health Network Suicide Prevention Program Guidelines.
More information on SPCAP in Northern Queensland
Contact: Genevieve Wells
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 0437 124 224