Informing youth suicide prevention for Western Australia
Investigators: Jacinta Freeman, Ashleigh Lin, Charlotte Pugh
The views and perspective from young people and mental health professionals on how youth suicide prevention for WA can be improved.
For more information please contact Jacinta Freeman on 6319 1699 or Jacinta.freeman@telethonkids.org.au
In Western Australia, suicide is the leading cause of death for young people aged 15 to 24 years. This aim of this project was to provide a report that would inform a youth suicide prevention framework for WA. The views on how youth suicide prevention can be improved were collected from both young people (16-25 years) and professionals with experience in youth mental health service provision or suicide prevention. In total, 55 young people from diverse backgrounds and with experience of marginalisation participated in the focus groups conducted in the Perth metropolitan area and the regional city of Albany. Previous to the focus groups, professionals working in the youth mental health and/or suicide prevention sectors completed an online survey that explored how youth suicide prevention in WA can be improved. The full report is available here.
External collaborators: MercyCare, Mission Australia, Youth Focus, the WA Commissioner for Children and Young People, Western Australia Primary Health Alliance and the Youth Mental Health, North Metropolitan Health Service, Mental Health, Public Health and Dental Service