A NEW post-suicide outreach service has been launched at GV Health.
The new service, known as HOPE – the Hospital Outreach Post-suicidal Engagement service – is a follow-up and aftercare service for people 16 years of age or more who attend a hospital in crisis or following a suicide attempt.
The service provides a 12-week program of clinical and social support tailored to individuals and their support networks including family, friends, carers, community cultural leaders and Elders.
The program was one of the recommendations of the interim report of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System, which is due to hand down its final report in February.
There is evidence that a previous suicide attempt is one of the strongest predictors of a future attempt.
Speaking in Shepparton last week, the Victorian Minister for Mental Health, James Merlino, described the HOPE program as “incredibly successful elsewhere in the state.”
“This is a really significant event here,” he said.
“This is going to be an incredibly important period as we tackle the scourge of mental health and really support families across our state.”
The opening of the HOPE service into the Shepparton region has created seven new jobs, and aims to deliver a model of care that that is individually tailored, culturally specific, and promotes healing and recovery.
Dr Ravi Bhat, the divisional clinical director of mental health service at GV Health, said the launch of the new program was a positive step for the region.
“In the mental health system, we have some way to go, which is why we’ve had a Royal Commission,” he said.
“This pandemic has highlighted the importance of mental health. I think it will make it very difficult for any government to say this is not something we’re prepared to address.
“But I’ve been here 21 years now, and I’ve not felt this hopeful as now.”
