Service Report Jan - June 2008
Mental Health Association of Central Australia
Mental Health Association of Central Australia reports; MHACA : Mental Health Association of Central Australia reports; Reports; PublicationNT
2008
Made available via the Publications (Legal Deposit) Act 2004 (NT).
Date:2008
English
Mental health facilities -- Northern Territory -- Periodicals; Aboriginal Australians -- Mental health services -- Northern Territory -- Periodicals; Well-being -- Social aspects -- Northern Territory -- Periodicals
Mental Health Association of Central Australia
Alice Springs
Check within Publication or with content Publisher.
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/242228
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/610060
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.