The Territory Labor Government is investing in infrastructure and community programs to support mental health and suicide prevention initiatives.
More than $50 million in funding includes a new 18 bed inpatient unit and Stabilisation and Referral Area in the Top End and the establishment of universal aftercare services, meaning Territorians discharged from hospital following a suicide attempt will receive immediate follow-up care.
This week the NT Government has released the fourth Suicide Prevention Progress Report.
The report provides a snapshot of the key achievements of the NT Suicide Prevention Strategic Framework Implementation Plan 2018-2023.
The top achievements in the report include:
Community Suicide Prevention Grants: 30 grants totalling $222,750 awarded for activities during 2022-2023. More than $1.22 million has been provided in community grants since 2018.Training for Staff and Community Members Working with Priority Groups: 1,463 Territorians trained in suicide prevention in the past 12 months.
Priority groups include men, youth, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, migrant and refugee communities, current and former defence force personnel, and the LGBTQ+ community.
Grant recipient, Northern Territory Aids and Hepatitis Council (NTAHC), has run a successful program with Tiwi Islands Sistergirls using imagery that speaks to the lived expertise of the Sistergirls.
In its current grants program, NTAHC is developing resources to decrease stigma around sexual health among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people and LGBTQ+ youth, groups which often have poor mental health outcomes.
These projects are among several being rolled out at a community level to raise awareness and to focus support for the people who are most at risk of suicide.
The full report card can be found at: here.
Quotes attributed to Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Lauren Moss:
“Territorians deserve access to the best possible mental health services and our Government has taken decisive action to deliver.
“The Territory’s population is over-represented in suicide statistics, more so the Aboriginal population, so we need to ensure Territorians have access to appropriate mental health and suicide prevention services.
“The Government is determined to reduce suicide rates in the Territory and supporting grass-roots organisations is recognised as one of the best ways we can make an impact.
“We have invested significantly in mental health support across the Territory, and we will continue to do so to improve services for Territorians.”
Quotes attributed to NTAHC Executive Director, Genevieve Dally:
“The funding provided to NTAHC as part of the Suicide Prevention grants has enabled us to partner with key affected communities, such as the Tiwi Island Sistergirls and LGTBI young people, to create meaningful resources that elevate the voices of people with lived expertise.
“Suicide prevention messages need to be targeted and led by the communities that are overrepresented in the statistics.”
Northern Territory Government
