Adam* from Portland was 17 when he took his own life.
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He tried five times before he was finally successful.
His mother told the Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health Services how difficult it was to fight through a system that was not set up for young adolescent males from a rural area, particularly those who are Aboriginal.
There needs to be facilities closer to home.
"He attempted to take his life five times, with the fifth time proving fatal and final. Each time he was admitted to hospital, neither his voice nor ours was heard," she said.
Adam was linked with the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS), who sent him to multiple treatments in Melbourne, which upset him further to be away from his family and support networks.
His mother described one time they waited hours for Adam to be transported from Warrnambool to Melbourne.
"After arriving in Warrnambool Hospital at 10AM that morning, he did not get picked up to be transported to Melbourne until midnight. Again, we were not able to travel with Adam," she said.
"There needs to be facilities closer to home. We cannot expect to lock up young Aboriginal rural adolescents in Melbourne and expect that this will not increase their anxieties and that of their families."
Now, a new service has been launched in the region to fill this gap locally.
Western Victoria PHN has officially launched The Way Back Support Service in the Great South Coast that offers support to people in the critical three-month period following an attempted suicide or suicidal crisis.
In partnership with the federal, Beyond Blue, Wellways and South West Healthcare, the service aims to improve access to high-quality aftercare to support at-risk individuals to stay safe.
WVPHN chief executive Rowena Clift said the service will help to build the capacity of individuals to self-manage distress and improve mental wellbeing, improve links with clinical and community-based services and increase social connectedness and links to support networks, such as families, friends, peers and carers.
It will also improve the capacity and capability of The Way Back workforce to support at-risk individuals.
"Western Victoria Primary Health Network is working as hard as possible to identify and fill as many service gaps as possible for our dear community's mental health needs," she said.
"Without a national program to address the service gap for people living through the critical three month period following a suicide attempt or crisis, we are delighted to be commissioning this program with our partners for the Great South Coast to foster connection and tailored support networks that help those most in need find a way back to good health.
"To be able to guide someone through this deeply distressing phase of their lives and help them find their feet again is incredibly important."
The service comes to Great South Coast due to an identified service gap for people who have attempted suicide or are experiencing a suicidal crisis in this region and will be offered free of charge to people of all ages, genders or backgrounds.
The service model, designed by Beyond Blue, enables participating hospitals and community mental health services to refer people to The Way Back and connect them with a clinical coordinator based at South West Healthcare, who will then determine the individual's suitability for the service.
A referral is then made to Wellways where support coordinators will provide the actual service to the client.
Once a referral has taken place, a Wellways support coordinator will contact the participant within one business day of referral and maintain regular face-to-face contact with the participant over the three months following their discharge from hospital via face-to-face, telephone and/or messaging services.
The Way Back service includes developing a safety plan and a support plan - such as connection with their GP, financial or relationship counselling - and ensures that the participant has supports in place.
South West Healthcare chief executive Craig Fraser welcomed the partnership.
"This innovative suicide post-vention service will provide practical psychosocial strategies and assistance to recover from highly distressing life circumstances.
"In time, the service will dovetail with the Hospital Outreach Post-suicidal Engagement (HOPE) initiative, a key outcome of the Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health Services."
If you, or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call 000, visit your nearest hospital emergency or use any of the crisis helplines:
- Lifeline - 13 11 14 | www.lifeline.org.au
- Suicide Call Back Service - 1300 659 467 | www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au
- Beyond Blue Support Service - 1300 224 636
- Kids Helpline - 1800 551 800 | www.kidshelpline.com.au
- MensLine Australia - 1300 789 978 | www.mensline.org.au
- South West Health Care Primary Mental Health Team Warrnambool - 5564 6000 | After hours: 1800 808 284
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