Specialist social services provider Centrecare has won a $13 million government contract to be the main services provider in the WA Suicide Prevention Strategy 2009-2013.
Specialist social services provider Centrecare has won a $13 million government contract to be the main services provider in the WA Suicide Prevention Strategy 2009-2013.
Mental health minister Graham Jacobs said Centrecare was chosen to implement the strategy based on its experience in the field.
"Centrecare is one of Western Australia's most well-established, professional and innovative providers of specialist social services. It is a not-for-profit organisation which delivers a wide range of quality services across WA," Dr Jacobs said.
"Centrecare have demonstrated a clear understanding of the strategy, a strong community focus and excellent organisational structures."
Dr Jacobs said Centrecare and the Ministerial Council for Suicide Prevention would work in close partnership with each other and the WA community to implement the strategy.
"The council will identify priority areas across the State to effectively target suicide prevention strategies," he said.
"The council will oversee initiatives to improve community strength and resilience, expand community knowledge of suicide and support capacity building in communities at increased risk.
"Centrecare will be funded from reconfiguring current resources held by the Mental Health Commission."
Centrecare's director, Tony Pietropiccolo, said the organisation was strongly committed to suicide prevention.
"I am very excited about Centrecare's involvement in the implementation of the WA Suicide Prevention Strategy," Mr Pietropiccolo said.
"Centrecare will work collaboratively across the State and engage community members to ensure that together we can make a real difference and achieves the Strategy's aims."
"About 2,000 Australians die from suicide every year. For every person who dies in this way, there are at least another 30 people who attempt suicide," Dr Jacobs said.
"In Australia over the last 20 years, there have been more deaths from suicide than fatalities on our roads.
"That means suicide is everybody's business; family and friends of the person who has died experience great sadness and grief, and as a community we share their pain and have a role to play in preventing this loss of life.
"The Liberal-National Government and the Mental Health Commission believe that any life lost to suicide is a tragedy.
