SOUTH Australians passionate about tackling suicide have met with experts from around the country and the world at the National Suicide Prevention Conference in Adelaide this week.
The state’s chief psychiatrist Dr John Brayley said the conference featured national and international speakers with a range of expertise in suicide prevention, with delegates from the South Australian Suicide Prevention Networks in attendance.
“Around 600 people will attend the conference, including academics, clinicians, program leaders, people with a lived experience of suicide and community members,” Dr Brayley said.
“SA Health is sponsoring the attendance of 70 delegates from SPNs across the state, who will be able to take important messages back to their communities.”
In the past five years, SA Health has facilitated development of 27 SPNs in local government areas across the state.
“When establishing each SPN, we educate the network members in the safe practice of discussing suicide in their communities,” Dr Brayley said.
“Having this year’s national conference in Adelaide is an excellent opportunity for the 70 SPN conference delegates to hear about new initiatives, research and best practices, which will enable them to empower their respective networks.”
The South Australian Suicide Prevention Plan 2017-2021 will aim to make people a priority, empower communities and translate evidence into practice.
The 2018 National Suicide Prevention Conference started on Tuesday at the Adelaide Convention Centre and ends today.
