Deliberate Self Harm and Suicidal Behaviour
This clinical protocol aims to reduce deliberate self-harm and suicidal behaviour by ensuring that people at risk are able to access consistent levels of support across the Kimberley, including:
Appropriate screening and assessment
Effective follow-up and safety planning.
The protocol recognises the role in suicide and self-harm of historical and current trauma, grief and loss, racism, child abuse and neglect, cultural breakdown, family and domestic violence, homelessness, poverty and sexual assault.
It provides additional guidance on drug or alcohol dependence, acknowledging the complexities of supporting Indigenous people who experience these issues after an episode of self-harm.
Source: Kimberley Aboriginal Health Planning Forum
More Suggested Resources
This section of the Government’s Head to Health website contains information for Indigenous people. Source: Australian Government Department of Health
This iOS app allows people to customise a safety plan for use in times of distress, with reminders of reasons to live and ways to stay safe. While the app is for use by anyone potentially at risk of suicide, Indigenous people with lived experience contributed to its design, and it can be readily configured to include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community supports and images. Source: beyondblue
"An online collection of resources to support the work of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander frontline health and wellbeing workforces, including: community health and wellbeing workers mental health workers family support education and youth services. The resources focus on social and emotional wellbeing, access to culture, healing and safety planning."