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Parliamentary Questions


Question On Notice No. 471 asked in the Legislative Council on 15 December 2021 by Hon Martin Aldridge

Question Directed to the: Minister representing the Minister for Mental Health
Parliament: 41 Session: 1


Question

I refer to the Mid West Suicide Prevention Officer, and I ask:
(a) which body is responsible for delivering the Suicide Prevention program in the Mid West;
(b) will the Minister please detail the budget of this organisation;
(c) what are this group’s terms of reference;
(d) how many FTE are employed in the Mid West Suicide Prevention Program in the:
(i) North Midlands sub region;
(ii) Batavia Coast sub region; and
(iii) Murchison sub region;
(e) will the Minister please detail how the performance of this organisation is evaluated;
(f) who advises the Mid West Suicide Prevention Coordinator on issues specific to the Mid West; and
(g) how many suicides have there been in the Mid West region in each of the past five years?

Answered on 16 February 2022

a)   The Western Australian Country Health Service (WACHS) are the agency commissioned to deliver the Suicide Prevention Program in the Midwest.

 

b)   In the 2021/2022 financial year, the budget allocated for the implementation of the Suicide Prevention Program in the Midwest is $231,180 (GST exclusive).

 

c)    WACHS does not operate according to terms of reference.  

d)   WACHS employ 1.5 FTE to coordinate the Suicide Prevention Program across the Midwest. 

e)    The performance of WACHS for the delivery of the Suicide Prevention Program in the Midwest is monitored and evaluated for contract compliance against agreed key performance measures linked to activities outlined in their contract. The Mental Health Commission has contract management systems, policies, guidelines and procedures in place that comply with legislative and Department of Finance requirements.

f)    The Midwest Suicide Prevention Program is advised by various professional and community networks on issues specific to the Midwest. These groups include:

-          Midwest Suicide Prevention Committee

-          Midwest Postvention Committee

-          WACHS Midwest Mental Health and Community Alcohol and Drug Service

-          Geraldton Suicide Prevention Action Group

-          Geraldton Local drug action Group.  

The Suicide Prevention Program Officer also holds regular ‘multi-service days’ to ascertain local knowledge and opinion on current issues in more specific areas such as youth mental health, older adult mental health, and community specific mental health issues.  

All groups and committees are guided by specific Terms of Reference relevant to key focus areas.

g)   Table 1: Number of confirmed suicide deaths that occurred in the Midwest region per calendar year.

Year

Number of confirmed suicide deaths

2017

27

2018

17

2019

8

2020

Data not available

2021

Data not available