Locating a Good SPACE for suicide prevention: updating a rural training program with evidence and lived experience

Research output: Other contribution to conferenceAbstractpeer-review

Abstract

Objective: The Good SPACE suicide prevention gatekeeper training program is evidence based and has been delivered to over 2000 participants in its various adaptations. It was designed to serve rural populations as a specific target group, since rates of suicide are higher in rural and remote areas. Whilst previous evaluations have demonstrated program efficacy, program improvement and keeping up to date with evidence and educational methods is needed. This project determined to revise both the content and the delivery of the program to reflect current understandings of rural suicide and suicide prevention, effective adult education techniques and to respond to multiple sources of feedback.
Setting: Rural NSW.
Participants: Participants were selected purposively for their lived experience of suicide and embodiment of the range of socio-economic characteristics identified in rural suicide data. A snowball approach was used to ensure suitable participants. Nine rural representatives with lived experiences of suicide, including five rural mental health experts participated.
Design: The project was informed by an Experience-Based Co-Design (EBCD) approach and conducted over two stages of knowledge acquisition and tailored program design. Co-design with two teams of lived-experience representatives ensured efficacy and respectfulness in an iterative process of evaluation.
Results: Analysis of National Coronial Information System (NCIS) data led to the development of archetypes and case scenarios. Thematic analysis of training feedback data revealed positive elements to be preserved and suggestions to incorporate. Academic literature review provided content and pedagogy recommendations. Co-design workshops and iterative evaluation generated further content and pedagogical revisions.
Conclusion: The revised training package is pilot-ready, strongly focused on rural Australia and exchanges a didactic approach for an experiential teaching method integrating critical pedagogy and a strengths-based style.

Conference

ConferenceWHRN2022 Research Symposium and Researcher of the Year Awards
Abbreviated titleInterweaving the threads: Tying rural health policy to rural health research
Country/TerritoryAustralia
CityDubbo
Period24/10/2225/10/22
Internet address

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