A project led by a local alliance of community, government and non-government agencies worked together to consider options to reduce Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth suicide in Townsville.
In particular, the group examined the need for a 24-hour primary health care service and recommended options to improve access to medical, acute mental health and social and emotional wellbeing services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people in Townsville.
This initiative developed from a resolution by the Queensland Mental Health and Drug Advisory Council in April 2015 requesting the Commission investigate service responses to suicide prevention in Townsville.
The project’s aims were to:
- Develop a clear understanding of the issues around access to services for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
- Understand the barriers and opportunities for preventing Indigenous youth suicide
- make recommendations about options available for access to 24 hours primary health care services, if necessary, by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people in Townsville.
A Townsville Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention forum was held in March 2016 to establish a collective approach to suicide prevention.
The alliance committed to enhancing local suicide prevention approaches.
