Suicide prevention grants on offer to help improve mental health and wellbeing

The Mental Health Commission (Commission) is providing $1 million in grant money for local initiatives to address the impact of suicide across Western Australia.

Over the next two years, grants of up to $100,000 will be available to organisations to build on existing community strengths, abilities, and expertise to fund innovative, place-based initiatives that meet local needs.

Mental Health Commissioner Maureen Lewis said the grants would complement the WA Suicide Prevention Framework, which aims to guide suicide prevention through a whole-of-community approach.

“The devasting impacts of suicide are felt deeply and impact individuals, families and entire communities,” she said.

“That is why we are supporting communities we know are disproportionately impacted by suicide through this grants process.”

Suicide Prevention Australia (SPA) has been selected to manage the Western Australian suicide prevention grants process.

SPA will collaborate with the Commission to align the grants with the four streams outlined in the WA Suicide Prevention Framework:

• Prevention/early intervention
• Support/aftercare
• Postvention
• Aboriginal people

SPA CEO Nieves Murray said the organisation was proud to partner with the Mental Health Commission to deliver the vital grants.

“Local, community-driven initiatives are the heart of effective suicide prevention, providing real, on-the-ground solutions to those who need them most,” she said.

For more information visit the SPA website.