Greater Whitsunday Council of Mayor's Taskforce for Suicide Prevention Project
The Council of Mayors Suicide Prevention Taskforce was established in response to industry and community concerns in relation to local suicide rates, which was raised by the Whitsunday, Isaac and Mackay Suicide Prevention Community Action Planning group (SPCAP). These key stakeholders were concerned that residents of the Mackay region were experiencing significant mental health distress, could be at risk of suicide, and experienced difficulties in navigating and accessing appropriate services and health care.
In 2020, this already fragile situation was adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with the toll of uncertainty of the situation, the restrictions (including social isolation), and the heightened demand on an already stretched health workforce. Consequently, in May 2021 Mackay Mayor Mr Greg Williamson made a call to action to the Greater Whitsunday Region Mayors of Mackay, Isaac, and Whitsunday to form the Council of Mayors Suicide Prevention Taskforce. The taskforce was a collective of local industry, regional councils, lived experience residents, First Nations People, and the local health sector. The taskforce hypothesised that as a collective, they were better placed to understand the issues and develop evidence informed, place-based solutions.
Collective representation from the three local governments, industry, business and community assisted in defining problems and developing place-based solutions in a response to industry and community concerns for residents who are experiencing mental health distress, may be at risk of suicide, and have difficulties navigating and accessing appropriate services and health care.
The Greater Whitsundays Communities, as the peak regional body for social development, has been engaged by NQPHN to leverage the momentum and sector buy-in as a result of the Council of Mayors Suicide Prevention Taskforce consultation and engagement. The Greater Whitsundays Communities will develop an implementation plan, including marketing and communication strategies based on the findings of the report and the recommendation of the Council of Mayors. This investment will be used to progress the report findings into opportunities for improvement through locally developed, place-based suicide prevention interventions.
Read the full The Greater Whitsunday Council of Mayors Suicide Prevention Taskforce Consultation Report (2021).