Suicide Prevention Australia partnered with people with lived experience of suicide, consumers, clinicians, service providers and accreditation experts to develop the Suicide Prevention Australia Standards for Quality Improvement. The Standards were released June, 2020.
The Suicide Prevention Australia Standards for Quality Improvement aim to support organisations to design and implement safe, high-quality, and effective suicide prevention programs and services.
There is growing recognition of the need to ensure suicide prevention programs and services are delivered to minimum quality standards and have sustainability factored into their design. Our community needs to have the assurance that Australia’s suicide prevention programs provide a consistent, high quality and safe standard of care.
By implementing the Suicide Prevention Australia Standards for Quality Improvement, program and service providers show that they are committed to excellence in safety and quality, and to achieving the best outcomes for every person who needs support from their program or service.
The Suicide Prevention Australia Standards for Quality Improvement provide a minimum standard that reduce the risk of harm, incorporate lived experience, diversity and inclusion through collaborative design, embeds evaluation and increases confidence and assurance in the quality of suicide prevention programs and services.
Early feedback from participants shows that the program is effective and useful for participants, with Wesley LifeForce saying that it is a positive step in removing stigma and encouraging help-seeking.
“Suicide is now being discussed more openly, which is a positive step in helping to remove the associated stigma and encourage help-seeking for those at risk.
This has led to an increase in programs which aim to educate and inform the community about providing support and assistance when needed.
It is essential that these programs are effective, safe and sustainable” (Wesley LifeForce, 2020).
Suicide prevention programs and services can commence the pathway to accreditation through an online self-assessment tool, allowing the user to review their progress towards meeting the Suicide Prevention Australia Standards for Quality Improvement. Alongside each of the Standards is a suite of tools and resources to support opportunities for improvement.
Programs and services that receive accreditation or are registered to work towards accreditation will be listed in the national register of suicide prevention accredited organisations.
