Celebrating 5 Years of Pioneering Suicide Prevention

SUNSHINE COAST, Australia - June 26, 2024 - PRLog -- Sunshine Coast – Care Collaborate Connect is excited to mark its 5th anniversary of commercialisation with the continued rollout of its groundbreaking suicide prevention initiative. Developed in 2016 by Clinical Psychologist and former Professor of Suicide Prevention, Dr. Helen Stallman, Care Collaborate Connect leads the way in consumer-centred mental health care since its commercialisation in 2019.

"We've been at the forefront of suicide prevention research and practice. The most common sentiment after a suicide is, 'I didn't know; I would have been there if they'd asked.' The truth is, that trust and support need to be established long before a crisis occurs. By offering online training in Psychological First Aid for the community and Suicide Prevention for health professionals, we aim to make a significant impact on global suicide prevention. Every Australian needs support at times, and together, we can create a continuum of care so no one feels abandoned or overwhelmed."

A key aspect of our approach is encouraging people to document their healthy coping strategies through the free My Coping Plan, helping them remember their own effective coping strategies before feeling overwhelmed. This strengths-focused strategy ensures everyone has a plan at hand when they need it most.

"Children who learn to use unpleasant emotions and healthy coping strategies, including quality professional support when needed, learn how to cope with life challenges and are less likely to feel overwhelmed and develop mental illnesses," Dr Stallman adds.

Dr Nadine Pelling, Clinical Psychologist and Senior Lecturer at the University of South Australia adds, "Care Collaborate Connect represents a significant advancement in our ability to support those in distress and train the next generation of health professionals to meet the needs of consumers when they ask for help. Its proactive approach can save countless lives."

Steve Lee, Manager of Mental Health and Wellbeing at Western Sydney University, says, "We've introduced the Care Collaborate Connect Psychological First Aid training to all staff and students over the past year, aiming to cultivate a university-wide culture of coping and care. Participants have shared that this new approach to understanding emotions and wellbeing has helped them cope better, enhanced their overall wellbeing, and boosted their confidence in supporting others safely."

Despite the availability of our world-first needs-based approach for five years, many consumers continue to suffer due to inadequate responses from health professionals, emergency departments, and mental health units. Recent media stories highlight the critical need for our approach:

• ABC News: Mental Health Patients Mistreated in Emergency Departments
• ABC News: Mental Health Unit Suicide Deaths at Prince Charles Hospital

Join us in celebrating this milestone and our mission to save lives. Visit our website (https://www.carecollaborateconnect.org/news-release/) to learn more about our innovative approach and participate in our training programs. Together, we can make a difference.