A collaboration between Queensland Health and General Practice Queensland (GPQ) commencing in April 2010 aims to prevent suicide by addressing the needs for improved discharge planning, engagement with a medical practitioner, referral and community support for people at risk of deliberate self harm / suicide and who present at the Royal Brisbane & Women’s Hospital [RBWH] and Princess Alexandra Hospital [PAH] emergency departments. 

This project will achieve this through:

1. establishing and enhancing clear and effective linkages between two divisions of general practice (Brisbane South Division and GPpartners), general practice, specific clinical staff within hospital emergency departments and relevant community based services;
2. creating new positions in the respective emergency departments, funded by Queensland Health under the ‘Queensland Plan for Mental Health 2007 – 2017’; and
   
3. by the Department of Health and Ageing (Queensland State Office) funding two non clinical positions - one in each of the divisions of general practice.

The non clinical positions will develop effective liaison between Hospital and Primary / Community Care based services, enabling appropriate treatment and follow-up of the at risk patients following presentation to and/or discharge from emergency departments.

Practitioners will establish and implement agreed written protocols, procedures, communication and governance processes for management of this patient group between Queensland Health and primary care services.

Project success will be demonstrated by improved discharge planning, referral and support of eligible patients post emergency department discharge.

GPQ is currently working with Queensland Health to prepare an evaluation funding proposal to the Department of Health and Ageing State Office to allow evaluation of the outcomes of this project to be fully considered.

For more information

For more information about the National Suicide Prevention Program (NSPP) project please contact: Cathy Beck, Mental Health Program Coordinator at cbeck@gpqld.com.au.