Consultation starts today to review the NT Mental Health Strategic Plan and align it with the fifth National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan.
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The NT has the highest rate of suicide for young people and the Government is looking at ways to meet the social and emotional needs of Territorians, by defining priority areas and principles of service delivery across the NT.
Consultation will be open between January and March 2019 and will be hosted in Darwin, Palmerston, Katherine, Tennant Creek, Alice Springs and Nhulunbuy. Suicide Prevention Community Forums will run concurrently with these sessions.
For Katherine, a community consultation will be held on Wednesday, February 13 from 10am-11am at Katherine Hospital Resource Centre.
A briefing session will be held on the plan from 11am to noon that same day at the Resource Centre,
To register for a public consultation session, visit www.nt.gov.au/health.
To review and provide feedback, visit www.haveyoursay.nt.gov.au
Following the review, it is anticipated the Mental Health Strategic Plan 2019-2025 will be released in May 2019.
Health Minister Natasha Fyles said: “The Government recognises that suicide has a devastating impact on our community, with the NT suicide statistics, sadly the highest in the country.
“We are delivering on our election promise to halve our suicide rate over the next 10 years - This is an ambitious target and one that will require input from all sectors of our community to make sure we get it right.
“The NT Mental Health Strategic Plan will support the Suicide Prevention Framework which offers pathways forward in reducing this burden of loss and grief, and supporting all in our community to live lives filled with meaning and purpose.”
Assistant Minister for Suicide Prevention, Mental Health and Disabilities, Ngaree Ah Kit said: “Suicide doesn’t just affect one person or a family, it impacts on the entire community, so it’s only right that the community has a say on the importance of awareness and prevention.
“I believe community is the way forward for not only tackling the stigma sometimes associated with suicide, but it is a key component of driving that important prevention message.”
For help over the phone now call the NT mental health crisis line on 1800 682 288 or one of the 24 hour mental health hotlines:
o Lifeline – Call 13 11 14
o Beyondblue – Call 1300 224 636
o Samaritans Crisis Line – Call 13 52 47
o Suicide Call Back Service – Call 1300 659 467
o Kids Help Line – Call 1800 551 800
o Mensline Australia – Call 1300 789 978
o Defence Force all hours support line – Call 1800 628 036
o Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) - call 13 14 50 and ask to speak to Lifeline.
In an emergency call 000.
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