Exploring Community-Based Suicide Prevention in the Context of Rural Australia: A Qualitative Study
Open accessAbstract
Suicide rates in rural communities are higher than in urban areas, and communities play a crucial role in suicide prevention. This study explores community-based suicide prevention using a qualitative research design. Semi-structured interviews and focus groups asked participants to explore community-based suicide prevention in the context of rural Australia. Participants recruited ((n = 37; ages 29–72, Mean = 46, SD = 9.56); female 62.2%; lived experience 48.6%) were self-identified experts, working in rural community-based suicide prevention (community services, program providers, research, and policy development) around Australia. Data were thematically analysed, identifying three themes relating to community-based suicide prevention: (i) Community led initiatives; (ii) Meeting community needs; and (iii) Programs to improve health and suicidality. Implementing community-based suicide prevention needs community-level engagement and partnerships, including with community leaders; gatekeepers; community members; people with lived experience; services; and professionals, to “get stuff done”. Available resources and social capital are utilised, with co-created interventions reflecting diverse lifestyles, beliefs, norms, and cultures. The definition of “community”, community needs, issues, and solutions need to be identified by communities themselves. Primarily non-clinical programs address determinants of health and suicidality and increase community awareness of suicide and its prevention, and the capacity to recognise and support people at risk. This study shows how community-based suicide prevention presents as a social innovation approach, seeing suicide as a social phenomenon, with community-based programs as the potential driver of social change, equipping communities with the “know how” to implement, monitor, and adjust community-based programs to fit community needs.
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Recent studies suggest benefits of multi-modal approaches tailored to the farming community, as the aetiology of problems in this community is diverse.
“These studies suggest the benefits of multi-modal approaches that are tailored to the farming community, as the aetiology of problems in this community is diverse.”
From Improving the mental health of farmers: what types of remote support are acceptable, feasible, and improve outcomes? A feasibility RCT (2024) · cites this paper as [31]
The Results (§3.3.3) describe varied suicide-prevention approaches chosen according to a target group’s needs, and the Conclusions (§5) call for programs adapted to local rural communities. The paper does not establish benefits specifically for farming communities or describe a diverse aetiology of problems within that community. (LLM, conf=0.84)
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- Authors
- Grattidge, L., Hoang, H., Mond, J., Lees, D., Visentin, D., & Auckland, S.
- Affiliations
- University of Tasmania (AU)
- Centre for Rural Health, University of Tasmania, Launceston 7250, Australia
- Corresponding author
- Grattidge, Laura
- Venue
- International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
- Publisher
- MDPI AG
- Published
- 2023-02-01
- Volume
- 20
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 2644
- ISSN
- 1660-4601 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC9915251
- OpenAlex
- W4318823533
- Cited by
- 25
- References
- 47
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 3
- FWCI
- 7.29
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
- Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Funders
- The Australian Rotary Health Research Fund
- Joan E. Swanson, Rotary Club of Deloraine
- the Centre for Rural Health, University of Tasmania
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Community Health and Development
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
- Keywords
- community-based suicide prevention, rural suicide, rural Australia, community-led initiatives, community needs, social capital, co-created interventions, social innovation, suicide awareness, community partnerships, lived experience
- MeSH terms
- Suicide Prevention, Adult, Aged, Australia, Female, Humans, Middle Aged, Rural Population, Suicide, Rural Health Services, Qualitative Research
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