Professional Links

The Black Dog Institute (Australia)

The Black Dog Institute is an educational, research and clinical facility offering specialist expertise in mood disorders — a range of disorders that includes depression and Bipolar Disorder. Its website includes information for clinicians as well as for the community. There are sections on causes, treatments, getting help, fact sheets and frequently asked questions and answers.

Centre for Suicide Research (University of Oxford UK)

The programme of work being conducted at the Centre for Suicide Research is aimed at increasing knowledge directly relevant to prevention of suicide and deliberate self harm.

The Centre does not provide a treatment service or advice for those in crisis.

Connecting Up Australia (formerly CISA)

Connecting Up is a community organisation who supports the community organisation sector across Australia to strategise and operate more effectively. A sector 700,000 strong. Our focus is capacity development.

Department of Health SA – Mental Health Unit (Australia SA)

This website is designed as an information resource for service providers and members of the community, and provides a portal for feedback and comments.

Has an excellent guide to mental health services in SA (Follow the link through “publications”)

Doctors’ Priority Line: Telephone Interpreter Service

Doctors have preferential access to telephone interpreters, in major community languages, which they can access within 3 minutes. Interpreters are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and are usually free of charge. You can organise a telephone interpreter by calling 1300 131 450.

GriefLink (Australia SA)

GriefLink is a resource on death-related grief for the community and professionals. As the site is based in South Australia some information about support services and educational activities is specific to that State.

Has a specific site, “Resources for Grief Associated with Suicide”

HealthInsite: Suicide Prevention Research and Statistics (Australia)

HealthInsite is an Australian Government initiative, funded by the Department of Health and Ageing. It aims to improve the health of Australians by providing easy access to quality information about human health.

The suicide site provides links to 8 resources based on research and statistics of suicide in Australia and New Zealand.

Just Ask (Australia)

Just ask is Lifeline’s rural mental health information service. It’s an Australia-wide service provided by Lifeline South Coast.

Just Ask provides information and referral for people with mental health problems, and to friends, relatives and others who want to know how to help. Lists relevant local services, as well as books and web sites.

NB: The site provides excellent self-help information sheets on a range of areas under the “How can we help: Tool Kit” link. These include:

  • Tool kit for helping someone at risk of suicide
  • Tool kit for Beating the Blues
  • Tool kit for Beating Panic Attacks
  • Tool kit for Carers
  • Aboriginal Suicide Prevention Information.
Living Is For Everyone (LIFE)

The Commonwealth government’s Living Is For Everyone (LIFE) website is a world-class suicide and self-harm prevention resource. Dedicated to providing the best available evidence and resources to guide activities aimed at reducing the rate at which people take their lives in Australia, the LIFE website is designed for people across the community who are involved in suicide and self-harm prevention activities.

Mental Health First Aid (Australia)

In order to help people provide initial support for someone with a mental health problem, the Centre for Mental Health Research at the Australian National University has developed a Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training course.

The MHFA course is a 12-hour course developed in 2000 by Betty Kitchener and Professor Tony Jorm with the aim of improving the mental health literacy of members of the Australian community.

Mental Illness Fellowship (South Australia)

The Mental Illness Fellowship SA is a non-government umbrella organisation of mental health support organisations sponsored by the Government of South Australia for the people of South Australia.

The Mental Illness Fellowship SA aims to assist all sections of the community by providing information and assistance to:

  • Consumers
  • Carers
  • Advocates
  • Students
  • Relatives and Friends
  • Professionals
  • The General Public.
MindMatters (Australia)

MindMatters is a mental health promotion program for secondary schools. The program includes:

  • A resource for schools
  • A national professional development and training calendar
  • A dedicated and growing website
  • An evaluation process
  • A quarterly newsletter.

MindMatters is a program to support Australian secondary schools in promoting and protecting the mental health of members of school communities. Each state and territory has a dedicated web page and publishes a schedule of free professional development activities.

Mindframe-media (Australia)

The Mindframe-media website, based on the print resource ‘Reporting Suicide and Mental Illness’, provides practical advice and information to support the work of media professionals by informing them about sensitive and appropriate reporting of suicide and mental illness.

NB: The link above is for the general suicide statistics and information page and is of interest to all, not just those in the media.

Multicultural Mental Health Australia (MMHA) (Australia)

MMHA provides national leadership in mental health and suicide prevention for Australians from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. MMHA links a wide range of state and territory mental health specialists and services, advocacy groups and tertiary institutions to promote the mental health and well being of Australia’s diverse communities.

National Prescribing Service Ltd. (Australia)

National Prescribing Service is a member-based organisation providing accurate, balanced, evidence-based information and services to health professionals and the community on Quality Use of Medicines (QUM). National Prescribing Service works in partnership with GPs, pharmacists, specialists, other health professionals, Government, pharmaceutical industry, consumer organisations and the community. The site is independent, non-profit and funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.

South Australian Mental Health Services for Older People Country Liaison Service (Australia)

Mental Health Services for Older People (MHSOP) is a State Government organisation funded to provide specialist mental health services for older people.

The Country Liaison Service currently provides a visiting and/or remote consultation and liaison service to the 7 Country Health Regions of South Australia

Suicide Prevention Australia (SPA) (Australia)

Suicide Prevention Australia is a non-profit, non-government organisation working as a public health advocate in suicide prevention. SPA is the only national umbrella body active in suicide prevention throughout Australia, promoting:

  • Community awareness and advocacy
  • Collaboration and partnerships between communities, practitioners, research and industry
  • Information access and sharing
  • Local, regional and national forums, conferences and events.
Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) (USA)

SPRC draws upon the expertise and resources of partner organisations to offer the best in suicide prevention practices through prevention support, training, conferences and web-based resources.

The site has numerous links to a variety of resources (most USA based) with access to articles and reports through the library link. Also has links to a series of discussions available for download in audio format.

World Health Organisation (2002). SUPRE Information leaflet.

Clearly outlines WHO’s position on suicide, including international suicide rates, key strategies for suicide prevention and also defines objectives for addressing suicide.