A best practice focus on suicide prevention for Indigenous communities

Following the conclusion of the recent National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Conference and the World Indigenous Suicide Prevention Conference, the Life in Mind team is taking a closer look at the important work which is being done by the Centre of Best Practice in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention (CBPATSISP).

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are identified as a priority population for suicide prevention in Australia.

It is important to acknowledge that the histories of resistance and resilience are as much part of Aboriginal culture and identity, as are the experiences of devastation.

Suicide, suicidal ideation and self-harm are critically important and preventable public health issues for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Consideration of suicide among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s needs to be culturally sensitive to the impact of racism and trauma and the social and economic disadvantage many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples experience.

Who is The Centre of Best Practice in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention (CBPATSISP)?

It is an organisation which provides best practice governance through an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community lens. The overall work of CBPATSISP take into the cultural, social, spiritual, economic and historical and contemporary contexts of Indigenous communities in the delivery of health, mental health and social service.

What are the objectives of CBPATSISP?

CBPATSISP aims to reduce the causes, prevalence and impact of suicide on Indigenous people, through culturally safe and evidence-based programs.

By working with Indigenous individuals and communities, CBPATSISP facilitates new research and assesses best practice planning to inform their suicide prevention approaches.

How do they support best practice across Indigenous suicide prevention?

To support best practice in Indigenous suicide prevention, CBPATSISP has established:

• A Clearing House website
• Best practice guidance and resource materials
• A culturally appropriate evaluation framework
• A focus on national conferences
• An Indigenous specific adaptation of the ‘systems approach’ to suicide prevention aligned with the current overarching approach to suicide prevention
• A responsive education/guidance program.

Why a Clearing House website?

CBPATSISP recently launched a new Clearing House website, encompassing best practice information to support Indigenous individuals, families and communities.

A key source of information, the website supports the development and implementation of culturally safe and evidence-based suicide prevention programs, services and research.

Sharing a program

CBPATSISP holds a collection of best practice services, programs and research in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander suicide prevention on their website.

Sharing a program or service to CBPATSISP encourages knowledge sharing, and strengthens best practice principles and outcomes.

All submissions will be assessed by an expert panel before being published to the Clearing House website.

For more information visit the new CBPATSISP website