The 2018 International Mental Health Conference is almost upon us again, this year the conference will be held over the 8th – 10th August at the RACV Royal Pines on the Gold Coast, Queensland.
This annual conference is now in its 19th year and continues to be the pinnacle event in the mental health industry. The Conference provides an invaluable opportunity to build relationships and to share knowledge, research and latest policies.
Ms Michelle Kwan, Knowledge Exchange Manager at Suicide Prevention Australia joins us at the conference to discuss ‘A National Quality Improvement Program for Suicide Prevention Programs/Services’.
Abstract
The improvement of quality standards in suicide prevention requires a national, whole-of-sector approach and support among service providers, Federal and State Government funding agencies, and other stakeholders delivering regional, evidence-based suicide prevention programs and services to meet localised needs.
The Suicide Prevention Hub: best practice programs and services (The Hub) is a user-friendly and publicly available, evidence-based online resource. The Hub was created to strengthen the evidence-base and drive improvements of the quality of suicide prevention programs and services. It will support and inform Government and other providers involved in service planning and commissioning of suicide prevention activities at a local and regional level by providing the best available evidence on suicide prevention programs and services.
The scientific criteria for the submission of programs and services into The Hub for independent review were informed by an Expert Advisory Group. The methodology was developed to facilitate the evaluation of a range of program and service types. The selected evaluation framework enables scientific rigour across a range of program and service types incorporating standards set by the National Health and Medical Research Council, strategies and frameworks developed by national and international bodies and evaluation experts.
This presentation will outline the design, development and implementation of a nationally coordinated, evidence-based online resource to support service planning, delivery and continuous quality improvement, including the importance of stakeholder engagement. The Hub is the first resource of its kind in Australia aimed at sharing knowledge about what works in suicide prevention and will also identify areas where programs and services may need strengthening or enhancement. Through The Hub, organisations may be eligible for mentoring support to build capacity in program design and/or evaluation.
Biography
Michelle Kwan is Knowledge Exchange Manager at Suicide Prevention Australia, leading The Suicide Prevention Hub: best practice programs and services project. Michelle has a Bachelor of Public Communications and Masters in International Public Health. Michelle has worked extensively in the not-for-profit sector over the last 8 years specialising in marketing and campaigns in organisations including the National Breast Cancer Foundation, The George Institute for Global Health and The East Bali Poverty Project.
For further information on the 19th International Mental Health Conference and to secure your spot please visit anzmh.asn.au/conference