Implementation of the Western Australian Suicide Prevention Strategy 2009 ? 2013

The Mental Health Division (MHD) on behalf of the Minister for Mental Health invites Expressions of Interest (EOI) for a non government organisation (NGO) to undertake the implementation of the Western Australian Suicide Prevention Strategy 2009 - 2013.The Contract arising from this Request will be with the MHD who will be the Principal and the nominated authority.

More Australians die from suicide than are killed on our roads. For every suicide there are approximately 20 suicide attempts. Suicide is one of the leading causes of death amongst men and the second leading cause of death amongst young people aged 15 – 24 years. Suicide rates are often higher in rural and remote areas and the recent alarming increase in the incidents of suicide amongst Aboriginal people in Western Australia demands that more work be done to stem the loss of loved and valued lives.

The Government’s mental health policy announced during the election included a commitment to:-

“Spend $13 million in the first two years of government to develop a comprehensive Western Australian State Suicide Prevention Strategy with a particular emphasis on young people, young men, Aboriginal people and people who live in rural and regional Western Australia.”

The Western Australian Suicide Prevention Strategy 2009 - 2013 (Strategy) outlines a significant State Government and community commitment to suicide and self-harm prevention. The Strategy has been developed from an analysis of almost 20 years of data and literature on suicide and self-harm and an extensive statewide consultation process. The Strategy is aligned with the National Suicide Prevention Strategy: Living is for Everyone (LIFE) and provides a framework and governance structure to guide initiatives in Western Australia for the future.