Suicide Prevention in the Wairarapa

In 2008 Wairarapa District Health Board was successful in obtaining two years funding from the Ministry of Health to employ a Suicide Prevention Co-ordinator (SPC).  The funding is part of a pilot initiative of the National Suicide Prevention Strategy to promote the co-ordination and implementation of suicide prevention activities at District Health Board level.  The other District Health Boards participating in the pilot are Auckland, Counties-Manukau, Lakelands and Nelson & Marlborough. 

The position sits in the Funding and Planning Directorate and Barry Taylor was appointed as the Suicide Prevention Co-ordinator commencing his role in August 2008.

SPC's Roles and Responsibilities The purpose of the Suicide Prevention Co-ordinator is to co-ordinate and facilitate suicide prevention work within the Wairarapa through the development of a suicide prevention action plan and to be a resource for agencies and communities in implementing safe and effective suicide prevention activities. The key tasks of the SPC are: Build effective working relationships with key stakeholders to deliver suicide prevention activities Undertake a need analysis within Wairarapa to identify the district’s strengths, needs and gaps in relation to suicide prevention Map current service pathways for people at risk of suicide, or who have attempted suicide and recommend areas for improvement Lead the development and implementation of a suicide prevention plan for the Wairarapa Act as liaison point for Wairarapa on local and national suicide prevention information, policies and be point of contact for external providers and the Ministry of Health

Wairarapa Suicide Action Plan The main task for the SPC is to develop and implement a comprehensive, integrated and evidence-based suicide prevention plan for the Wairarapa.  The aim of the local plan is to ensure that the national programme of action is appropriately targeted to the specific needs and priorities of local Wairarapa communities. The goals of the local plan are: Reduce the rate of suicide and suicidal behaviour in the Wairarapa Reduce the harmful effect and impact associated with suicide and suicidal behaviour on families/whanau, friends and the wider community Reduce inequalities of suicide and suicidal behaviour Improve effectiveness, safety and access to local services for people at risk of suicide and their families/significant others. Build resiliency in key target populations

 

Wairarapa Suicide Prevention Inter-Agency Steering Group

To ensure that the Wairarapa Suicide Prevention Plan reflects the needs and concerns of Wairarapa communities and that there is a co-ordinated implementation of the suicide prevention activities, an inter-agency steering group (IASG) has been established.

Purpose

The purpose of the Suicide Prevention Inter-Agency Steering Group is to develop a Suicide Prevention Plan for the Wairarapa District and support the implementation of suicide prevention activities in the Wairarapa.

IASG's Roles and Responsibilities

• To share information of relevant activities/projects occurring at an agency or community level.
• To contribute to the development of a Wairarapa District Suicide Prevention Plan based on the principles and the seven goals of the New Zealand Suicide Prevention Strategy 2006 – 2016 and aligned with the New Zealand Suicide Prevention Action Plan 2008 - 2012
• To participate in working sub-groups as identified by the IASG
• To audit the District Plan to ensure that the issues for Maori are addressed.
• To identify potential risks/safety issues in the implementation of the District Plan and to advise on strategies to manage those risks
• To monitor and review the implementation of the District Plan.
• To promote and facilitate the implementation of the District Plan within their own organizations and/or sector
• To provide feedback from agency and/or sector about the implementation of the District Plan
• To be a conduit between the IASG and their own agency at a district or national level on agency’s policies or service deliverables that impact on the implementation of the District Plan
• To provide advice and guidance to the Suicide Prevention Co-ordinator on the implementation of suicide prevention activities in the Wairarapa district.
• To make recommendations to the Wairarapa Healthy Lifestyles Oversight Group on issues that directly or indirectly affect suicide prevention in the Wairarapa and require consideration in the overarching Healthy Lifestyles Strategy or associated strategies.
• To identify and make linkages with other initiatives and projects in the Wairarapa that impact on suicide prevention outcomes
• To identify opportunities for collaboration between organizations to implement suicide prevention activities

IASG Membership

The Steering Group consists of representatives of the following agencies:

Child Youth and Family		Wellington Consumers Union
Group Special Education, Ministry of Education		Victim Support
Mental Health Services		Wairarapa Addiction Services
NZ Police		Wairarapa Community Primary Health Organisation
Rangitane o Wairarapa		Wairarapa Organisation for Older Persons
Supporting Families Wairarapa		Wairarapa Public Health Unit
South Wairarapa Safer Community Council		Wairarapa School Guidance Counsellors Group
Te Hauora Runanga o Wairarapa		Wellington Consumers Union

Suicide Prevention Training

While a complex social issue, suicide is preventable and a trained workforce can play an important role in identifying those who may be at risk and providing supportive care to assist them and their families through the crisis time.  Providing training, information and advice is therefore a key part of the suicide prevention action plan.

What we want to achieve:

A confident and competent workforce that is comfortable in dealing with suicidality.

Proactive agencies that effectively and safely respond to suicidality in their clients and the community.

We can help to achieve this through:

• Provision of up-to-date and evidence-based information
• Opportunities for skill development
• Advice and support to agencies

Click here for the 2009 Training Opportunities

Contact Details

The Suicide Prevention Co-ordinator is based at Planning and Funding, 2^nd Floor, Wairarapa DHB Offices, Blair St, Masterton

Postal Address:  PO Box 96, Masterton 5840
Phone: (06) 946-9800  Extn 5853
Mobile (027) 322 2271

Email:  barry.taylor@wairarapa.dhb.org.nz