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New resource to support implementation science in suicide prevention

Everymind is pleased to launch the Suicide prevention implementation hub (the Hub), a new section on the Life in Mind portal designed to assist the suicide prevention sector in better understanding and leveraging implementation science.

The Hub was developed through Everymind’s partnership with the University of Melbourne supporting the LIFEWAYS project to strengthen Australian suicide prevention research and facilitate the effective translation of research into policy and practice.

The Hub can help individuals in a wide range of roles, including policymakers, service providers, practitioners, researchers and those with lived or living experience of suicide, learn more about implementation science, and how to apply it effectively in suicide prevention.

The Hub includes five key areas, including:

  • Strategies and frameworks - Explore implementation strategies, theories, models and frameworks;
  • Barriers, enablers and lessons learned - An overview of barriers, enablers and lessons learned in suicide prevention implementation;
  • Lived experience - The importance of lived experience in implementation;
  • Considering equity - Considering equity in suicide prevention implementation;
  • Research methods – Examining implementation research methods in suicide prevention across varied and complex settings;
  • Other implementation science resources - Explore other implementation science resources for suicide prevention.

Development of content for the Hub was guided by experts in implementation science and suicide prevention, including Dr Lennart Reifels, Senior Research Fellow – Mental Health, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health.

According to Dr Reifels, our field has come a long way in establishing the evidence for what works in suicide prevention.

"With this world-first implementation hub for suicide prevention, we are striving to mobilise the rich arsenal of implementation wisdom to enable all sector stakeholders to elevate their suicide prevention efforts to the next level, ensuring that our joint efforts have maximum impact for those affected by suicide.” said Dr Reifels.

Dr Robyn Mildon, Chief Executive Officer, Centre of Evidence and Implementation also provided guidance and expertise towards development of the Hub. Dr Mildon expressed that the research-to-practice gap in suicide prevention and mental health is an emergency.

“We know things now that can really help improve people's lives and it is taking too long to bridge the gap. That's where implementation science comes in.

“Rather than hoping implementation happens, we want to move to making it happen. And that's where, the science of implementation can be really, really helpful.

“The Hub will be great learning tool, providing a highly useful collection of resources to help us apply implementation science in our work in suicide prevention.” said Dr Mildon.

People with lived and living experience were also integral to the development of the Hub and Everymind acknowledges the valuable contribution and commitment of all those involved. People deserve a say in the approaches that are intended to help them. Involving the people and communities that will be impacted by an approach also enables implementation success. The knowledge and experiences of people with lived experience are invaluable, and help to set and achieve desired outcomes.

To access the Hub, please visit: https://bit.ly/3Ack8dq

About LIFEWAYS

The LIFEWAYS project is being conducted by the University of Melbourne's Centre for Mental Health and key partners from seven other universities and non-government organisations with a view to strengthening Australian suicide prevention research and facilitating the effective translation of research into policy and practice. The project is supported through funding from the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care.

LIFEWAYS is designed to achieve the Australian Government's commitment to working towards reducing suicide deaths and suicidal behaviour across the Australian population. LIFEWAYS will take Australian research in this area to the next level, ensuring that findings make a real difference to the way suicide prevention services and programs are delivered.

For further information about these and other LIFEWAYS initiatives, please contact: [email protected]

Published: 24 October 2024