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Public Lecture: "Suicide Prevention is Possible"
Chad Buckle Fellowship: Public Lecture
Professor Robert Goldney
“Suicide Prevention is Possible”
6.00pm, Wednesday 15 October 2008
National Library Auditorium
About Professor Goldney:
Professor Robert Goldney - the head of Psychiatry at the University of Adelaide - is the visiting speaker for 2008 under the Chad Buckle Fellowship.
Professor Goldney is recognised as one of the world's most foremost researchers on suicide and depression, receiving a number of international awards for his work.
His most recent accolade came from the American Association of Suicidology who presented him with the Louis I. Dublin Award for his contribution to the field of suicide prevention. Professor Goldney is only the second Australian in the 34-year history of the award to receive the honour.
"Suicide is a very complex issue," Professor Goldney said. "We certainly don't have all the answers and we will never stop all suicides but we can do a lot towards reducing the numbers.
"It is important we take a multi-faceted approach to preventing suicide, using both standard psychiatric and psychological therapies, as well as making it harder for people to take their own lives."
He said new gun laws introduced in the wake of the Port Arthur massacre in 1996 had contributed significantly to the drop in firearm-related suicides in Australia.
Other effective measures include telephone crisis services, the prescription of anti-depressants, restricting barbiturates and ready access to substances such as pesticides, erecting barriers on bridges and discouraging sensational media reporting of suicides.
"It is logical that by alleviating risk factors there should be an impact on suicidal behaviour. If you can buy time, you can often save a life.
"Research shows that only 10% of people who have survived potentially lethal suicide attempts actually go on to commit suicide," Professor Goldney said.
Australian statistics show young men (aged 15-24) have trebled their suicide rate since 1900 (due in part to access to alcohol and drugs), but the rate for older men has fallen considerably. This is attributed to a better understanding of mental illness among older people, improved treatment for physical illnesses and better social security safety nets.
About the Chad Buckle Fellowship:
Chad Buckle took his own life in 2003 while a compulsory patient at Capital & Coast DHB’s acute mental health unit in Wellington.
Chad’s death highlighted the importance of implementing and consistently practising best practice techniques in the diagnosis, treatment, monitoring and ongoing care of psychiatric patients, including the recognition and treatment of at risk patients. In recognition of the need to keep abreast of international best practices, every year for a decade the Capital & Coast District Health Board, in consultation with the Buckle Family, will bring to Wellington an international expert in mental illness. The purposes of the visits will be to strengthen the connections and awareness of the Capital & Coast District Health Board, its staff, and other New Zealand mental health sector practitioners with international best practice in mental health and psychiatric care, the latest research and practice methodology. It is expected that the Capital & Coast District Health Board and its staff will use the visit as an opportunity to learn more about international practices and to test and improve hospital systems and individual professional practice.
The Fellowship recipient will visit Capital & Coast mental health services to meet and spend time with key staff, review practice and facilities and provide feedback and recommendations. They will also deliver a public lecture in their specialist field.
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