Rural Suicide Prevention Do we need a separate Strategy? Trevor - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Rural Suicide Prevention Do we need a separate Strategy?

Executive Manager Services and Programs Trevor Hazell

What is “Rural”

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t service vices “Relative remoteness” refers to accessibility to se service vices s esp espec eciall ially y sp spec ecialt ialty y se service vices

Rur ural al health health

• 32% of Australians live outside of major cities
• People living in rural areas have shorter lives, higher

levels of illness, and more risk factors than those living in cities

• Health risk factors include:
• Lower education levels
• Lower incomes
• Exposed to greater risk of physical injury
• More likely to smoke, drink too much, do less exercise
• More overweight

Rur ural al mental health mental health

“The reported prevalence of mental illness in rural and remote Australia appears similar to that of major cities. Access to mental health services is substantially more limited than in major cities, and country people are less likely to seek help. Tragically, rates of self-harm and suicide increase with remoteness.” “People in rural areas regularly score better than their major city counterparts on indicators of happiness. This may be testament to the positive aspects of rural life, and the interconnectedness of people living there. In rural areas there are higher levels of civic participation, social cohesion, social capital, and volunteering and informal support networks from neighbours, friends and the community.” ARHA Factsheet

Rur ural al mental illness mental illness

Rur ural al suicide suicide

Suicide theor Suicide theory

“I am alone” “My life is worthless”

(Figure adapted from Van Orden et al., 2010).

Systems a Systems appr pproac

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Public Health A Public Health Appr pproac

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Centr Centres f es for Diseas

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Suicide prevention has been based on a mental health treatment approach because clinical conditions (e.g., depression, anxiety, psychosis, or alcohol and substance dependence) are apparent among many who kill themselves (3). However, this approach only reaches small segments of the population who have identified risk factors and who can surmount treatment barriers, such as stigma and limited availability of or access to services (4). This orientation is also too limiting because most persons with mental health problems do not engage in suicidal behavior or die by suicide. First-time suicide attempts can be fatal, and suicide warning signs (e.g., depression, increased use of drugs or alcohol, or mood changes) can be common symptoms among non-suicidal persons and not predictive of future suicide attempts or suicide. Thus, a treatment-only approach to prevention has limited impact on national rates of suicide and nonfatal suicidal risk behavior (5). A public health approach adds a complementary, wider, and prevention-oriented focus that increases attention to the many factors across the lifespan that contribute to circumstances that promote suicidal thinking and suicide attempts. This approach offers

• pportunities to foster protective factors throughout a person’s life, supporting ongoing

prevention well before the prospect of suicide is imminent.