Aftercare Co-ordinator: Suicide Prevention and Postvention

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Our Aftercare Co-ordinator Service provides a vital link between hospital and community-based services for people in the Wheatbelt who have survived suicide or for anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts (without immediate intent). This service is a cornerstone of suicide prevention in our region, fostering safety, connection, and recovery.

Why the Program is Important for Suicide Prevention

The period after discharge from hospital following a suicide attempt is often a vulnerable time. Our Aftercare Co-ordinator Service is here to provide standby support after suicide has been attempted by encouraging and facilitating connections with purposeful care and support networks. Key components of our program include:

Safety planning to help manage risk and promote well-being.

• Practical support in reconnecting with GPs.
• Referrals and connections with other community agencies, ensuring comprehensive care.
• By focusing on individual needs, we provide suicide prevention help that is both proactive and compassionate, aimed at reducing risk and fostering resilience.

Understanding Suicide and Mental Health

Understanding the intricate relationship between mental health and attempted suicide is crucial in our efforts to prevent suicide and provide effective support. Mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), can significantly increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviours. Research consistently shows that individuals grappling with these conditions are more likely to experience suicidal ideation and may attempt suicide.

However, it’s important to recognise that mental health conditions are not the sole cause of suicide. Many individuals with mental health conditions do not experience suicidal thoughts or behaviours, and conversely, many individuals without diagnosed mental health conditions can still face suicidal ideation. This complexity underscores the need for comprehensive mental health support and suicide prevention efforts that address a wide range of factors.

How the Mental Health Program Works

Our trauma-informed approach, led by lived experience, prioritises participants’ voices and creates personalised ongoing support pathways.

• Recognising trauma. Our Aftercare Coordinator is highly experienced and acknowledges the potential impact of past traumas on participants’ lives. In validating each person’s experience of trauma, we collaborate with similarly informed services, working on the person’s behalf to create support ‘loops’ through which they can more readily access healing environments.
• Safety planning. We develop highly detailed and individualised care plans in collaboration with participants, considering their preferences, needs and strengths. Each plan is designed to help the person navigate factors associated with increased suicide risk and promote overall well-being, identifying ways to improve safety and exploring situations or triggers that may result in distressing emotional responses. It also includes coping strategies, support networks, resources and activities that are safe and available for people to access during challenging times. These plans address risks, identify triggers, and outline coping strategies, offering a lifeline of standby support after an attempted suicide.
• Continuous support and follow-up care. The people we support can participate in the program remotely or in person – most people prefer and enjoy the most benefit from face-to-face visits with their Aftercare Coordinator. We travel throughout the Wheatbelt to provide in-person support at every opportunity, with the Coordinator arranging a space to meet confidentially and safely.

We actively encourage participants to seek help and offer several ways for people to check in, discuss risk, celebrate progress and address any emerging challenges. Our team is available on the phone if participants are feeling isolated or need support to move safely through more minor day-to-day stressors and foster ongoing connectedness.

The Outcomes – Minimising Suicide Risk Factors

Participation is completely voluntary, and we employ a flexible, courageous and all-inclusive approach to building environments of safety, connection and empowered personal growth.

Importantly, we strive to promote positive experiences that are restorative. By fostering self-empowerment and promoting innovative sharing opportunities, we aim to restore the power imbalance that people often experience through more traditional models of care. We think about this in terms of:

• Journey of healing: Holistic, ongoing approaches to case management that support emotional, psychological and social needs, promoting comprehensive healing. Our holistic approach also considers the history of suicide attempts, providing tailored support to address the underlying issues and promote long-term recovery.
• Gradual progress: Each participant’s journey unfolds at the pace they choose, with an overarching purpose of moving from crisis to stability, leading to long-term recovery.

We actively promote equity, value diversity and invite everyone with lived experience of suicide to speak their truth, safe in the knowledge we are listening with compassion. In this way, participants gain valuable insights into the factors associated with the highly personal human experience of profound emotional and psychological pain. The benefits include (but aren’t limited to):

• Post-traumatic growth (PTG): Many participants report personal growth and transformative change after engaging with our services, gaining valuable insights into their experiences.
• Increased appreciation for life: The people we support often develop a deeper appreciation of life and relationships through the relational process of partnering with positive support to overcome emotional distress.

We also encourage participants to nominate significant others, including partners, family, and carers, to be involved in their journey with us. Doing so can provide additional benefits, including different perspectives, emotional and practical support, and a greater sense of community, worth, purpose and support during critical times.

How to Access this Suicide Help Program

WAPHA (WA Primary Health Alliance) funds the Aftercare Co-ordinator program. We accept referrals from hospitals, GP clinics and community mental health services.

• Referral from hospital: If you’re currently receiving mental health support via emergency department presentation or inpatient admission, you can request to be connected to our service, including as part of your discharge and safety plan.
• Referral from your GP: You can also request a referral to our service through your GP after discussing your mental health needs with them.
• Referral from another service: If you’re already connected with another mental health service, such as the Community Mental Health Service, you can discuss your options with your current support team and, if appropriate, request a referral to our service.

For more information on suicide prevention help, please email wcads@holyoake.org.au or call 08 9621 1055.

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