17/04/2026
Su***de prevention is often treated as a prediction problem.
In writing a su***de prevention policy for my psychology clinic in Mount Gravatt, I drew on Lifeline training, mental health first aid, clinical psychology training, and my own experience. I also spoke with peers and reviewed current literature.
What became clear is that the field takes quite different approaches.
Many models focus heavily on risk factors and prediction.
Others take a broader, systems view recognising that su***de prevention is something the whole community contributes to.
There are also structured frameworks like STARS from Griffith University, although formal training in these can be expensive.
For a small clinic, I don’t think a purely prediction-focused approach is workable.
So I took a community-based approach.
The policy draws on resources at multiple levels from World Health Organization guidance through to national, state, and local supports like the Brisbane South PHN.
It emphasises open dialogue between clients, clinicians, families, and referrers, without placing the burden solely on any one person.
For us at SQPsych, that means doing our part:
Creating opportunities for intervention, supporting our clients, and also looking after our clinicians.
I’m interested to hear how others are approaching this.
Do you lean more toward risk prediction, or a broader community approach?
Do you lean more toward risk prediction or a broader community approach?port
