Territory Stories

Service Report Jan - June 2008

Details:

Title

Service Report Jan - June 2008

Other title

Mental Health Association of Central Australia

Collection

Mental Health Association of Central Australia reports; MHACA : Mental Health Association of Central Australia reports; Reports; PublicationNT

Date

2008

Description

Made available via the Publications (Legal Deposit) Act 2004 (NT).

Notes

Date:2008

Language

English

Subject

Mental health facilities -- Northern Territory -- Periodicals; Aboriginal Australians -- Mental health services -- Northern Territory -- Periodicals; Well-being -- Social aspects -- Northern Territory -- Periodicals

Publisher name

Mental Health Association of Central Australia

Place of publication

Alice Springs

Copyright owner

Check within Publication or with content Publisher.

Parent handle

https://hdl.handle.net/10070/242228

Citation address

https://hdl.handle.net/10070/610060

Page content

MHACAServiceReport,JanuaryJune2008 /32 Inthisvein,weagreedthat: Eachorganisationshouldhaveitsownprocedurefordealingwithacrisisrelatedtosuicide thatiscleartoalltheirstaff.Ifforsomereasonthereisacauseforcomplaintbecausethe procedureisnotfollowedoritdoesntseemtoworkasitshould,thentheproperchannelsof complaintshouldbecarriedoutwiththerelevantorganisation.Eachorganisationprovided theircomplaintsprocedurestotheLPPprogram AnInteragencySuicideResponseProtocolneededtobeconsideredandreviewed.LPP developedtheprotocolandthisremainedindraftform. Discussionsregardingthepossibilityofengagingaresearchtocollectinformationanddata onthosewhopresenttoA&Eatrelatedtosuicideriskwiththeaimofinformingstrategies andsystemsofsupport. 4)Discussriskandprotectivefactorsthatseemparticulartoourregion Weworryalotabouthowimpulsivesuicideisinthisregionandthewayitsoftenusedasaweapon orthreat.Allcommitteememberswereinvitedtoattendaspecialdiscussiondayonthetopicin October2007Whensuicideisusedasathreat,andwealsoreportedonthisdayintheNovember meeting.AbookletwasproducedcalledTheLittleRedThreatBookreportingonthefindingsfrom thisworkshop. 5)RedefiningtheSteeringCommitteesTermsandCommitments LifePromotionspenttimewritingupinformationaboutthiscommittee,sowecouldgetaclearlook atthereasonswemeettogetherandwhatwehopetoachievebydoingso.Allmemberswereasked tosignadocumenttoconfirmorreconfirmtheircommitmenttotheprogramandtothecauseof suicideprevention.Wethinkthisisagoodprocessandallowspeopletocontinuallyquestionthe purposeandtheusefulnessofthecommittee.Allrepresentingagencies(apartfromone)hadsigned theiragreementby30June2008 1.2BarklyLifePromotionCommittee TennantCreek TheTennantCreekpositionhasbeenvacantsinceJuly2007.Thepositionwasadvertisedinlocal papersinJune,July,August,SeptemberandOctober2007.LaurenciatravelledtoTennantCreekin JulyandspoketoAnyinginyiStrongerFamiliesManager,XavierDesmarchellierandprioremployee DuaneFraserabouttheposition.UnfortunatelysinceCoralhaslefttheposition,theBarkly committeehasnotmetandlesstraininghasbeenconducted.Laurenciacontinuestokeepthose involvedinthecommitteeinformedoftheLifePromotionactivities.However,itisclearthatCoral playedavitalroleintheBarklyregion.ThepositionwasreadvertisedinJune2008andthree applicationswerereceived. 1.3OtherwaysLifePromotionstrengthensconnectionswithcommunity: CentralAustralianYouthProgramsInformationNetwork(CAYPIN) TheLifePromotionProgramhashadacontinuedlinkwithyouthorganisationsviatheCentral AustralianYouthProgramsInformationNetwork.Thisnetworkmetonabimonthlybasisandwas coordinatedbyTangentyereCouncilsCAYLUS(CentralAustralianYouthLinkUpService). Duetopoorturnoutatmeetingsandthequestioningoftheusefulnessofthisnetwork,CAYLUS decidedtocontinuetodistributeinformationviaemail,howevernottocontinuethefacilitationof meetings.Lifepromotionconsideredassistingwithpromotionofthisnetwork,howevergiventhe emergenceofHeadspaceinAliceSprings,feltthatthisorganisationmighthavearoletoplayinthe youthsectornetwork.