Suicide prevention symposium

We’re proud to share that three of our senior staff, A/Professor Sathya Rao OAM (Executive Clinical Director), Cathryn Pilcher (Associate Director) and Jillian Broadbear (Senior Research Education Fellow), will be presenting a symposium at Suicide Prevention Australia's 26th National Conference later this month in Perth.

The first presentation in this symposium will describe a study with the Coroner's Court of Victoria that clearly illustrates the prevalence of death by suicide in people diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD). A key takeaway is the near universal experience of help-seeking that people engage in during their final months and weeks, highlighting many opportunities for meaningful intervention across the health sector.

The second presentation describes the reliance of our health system on crisis-based responding, placing a heavy impost on emergency services and a clear need to rethink the 'off ramps' so that people experiencing repeated crises can access meaningful interventions and supports to break this exhausting cycle.

The final presentation recognises that people with BPD and complex trauma, many of whom experience persistent suicidality, may not receive timely and appropriate interventions. Previous work in the field clearly shows that the best way to reduce suicide in people who experience chronic suicidality is to offer evidence-based psychotherapies. 

This presentation will highlight principles underlying all evidence-based therapies, knowledge of which empowers clinicians, systems and services not only to “never give up” on someone who experiences persistent suicidality, but to also support them to live through and beyond these experiences.

If you are attending the conference, we sincerely hope you will join us for our symposium presentation.