More training for ED staff to prevent suicide

Published Wednesday, 03 June, 2015 at 02:34 PM

Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services
The Honourable Cameron Dick

Emergency Department staff in Queensland public hospitals will receive training to recognise, assess and manage people at risk of suicide as part of a new training package announced today.

Health Minister Cameron Dick said the plan would be developed and rolled out across the state over the next 12 months.

“The loss of a life by suicide is a tragedy and one that has a significant impact on friends, families and the community,” Mr Dick said.

“The need for this training has been raised directly with me by parents and advocates calling for improvements to the system.

“Emergency department staff do a great job in difficult circumstances, and now we want to better support them with effective training.”

Mr Dick recognised suicide prevention advocate Kerrie Keepa who, through her local MP Don Brown, has helped highlight this area to the Government.

“Kerrie has become a campaigner for positive change in the way we help prevent suicide and I thank her for her tireless advocacy on this issue.”

Member for Capalaba, Don Brown, welcomed the initiative.

“We lose more years of potential life to suicide than to any other cause,” Mr Brown said.

“Through this program, emergency staff will be more aware and better trained to deal with people who are at risk of suicide.”

While existing programs are available, they are targeted to mental health clinicians and require full or half-day attendance, which make them difficult to access for ED staff who work variable shifts.

The new training package, tailored specifically to emergency department staff, will be delivered more flexibly and will use a ‘train-the-trainer’ model.

The training package will be based on the existing Emergency Events Management Mental Health Module and updated with a greater emphasis on the detection and management of suicide risk.

Queensland Health will update its Guidelines for Suicide Risk Assessment and Management to include clinical best practice for emergency departments.

The Queensland MIND (Mental Illness Nursing Documents) Essentials resource for nurses will also be updated to strengthen the section that provides advice on how to care for a person who is suicidal.

ENDS

Media contact:        Andrew Fraser 0428 690 679