Active Life Enhancing Intervention (ALIVE) Program

1. Project Profile

Project Name(s)	Active Life Enhancing Intervention (ALIVE) Program
Funded Organisation	Perth Central and East Metro Medicare Local (previously Perth Primary Care Network)
Geographical Area	Local
State/Territory	Western Australia
Approach(es)	Indicated
Individual/Group	Individual and Group
LIFE Action Areas	Building individual resilience and the capacity for self-help Improving community strength, resilience and capacity in suicide prevention Taking a coordinated approach to suicide prevention Providing targeted suicide prevention activities Implementing standards and quality in suicide prevention
Target Groups	People bereaved by suicide People who have previously attempted suicide People who have self harmed

2. Project Description

ALIVE provides support to General Practitioners (GPs) whose patients present with suicidal or self harm ideas and patients discharged from the Emergency Departments (EDs) at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Swan Districts Hospital and Swan Adult Mental Health Service that have attempted suicide or engaged in self harm.

ALIVE is an intensive case management service that provides a professional and assertive mental health approach that provides a professional and assertive mental health approach including comprehensive assessment, support and through care with a GP and linking the patient with health and social services. The program also promotes the ALIVE model to GPs and provides evidence based training in suicide prevention to health professionals to empower them to identify and respond to people at risk of suicide.

3. Activities

To achieve the project objectives, the following activities are undertaken:

• Regular weekly meetings with mental health staff of EDs to triage new referrals
• Communication with GPs regarding patient's discharge, relationship/engagement with ALIVE program, ED discharge documents, care plan, mental health assessment, K10 and suicide risk assessment
• Liaison with hospital mental health staff regarding the ongoing clinical needs of patients with possible referral back to hospital for clinical care
• Referral of clients to community resources. Referrals include to AOD services, long term psychological counselling, accommodation services, and organisations providing psycho-social support
• Providing assertive post discharge patient care. Patients are contacted within 24 hours of receipt of referral, they are then seen within 72 hours of receipt of referral and ALIVE staff contact referrer with outcome of referral
• Presentation of ALIVE model of suicide intervention and assessment at GP conferences/seminars, practice visits and other organisations
• Gatekeeper training presented to GPs and other health professionals
• Debriefing opportunities and information offered to GPs and health professionals managing suicidal patients
• Linkages and partnerships – participation in Eastern Regions Mental Health Agencies (ERMHA) group, developing new partnership with Royal Perth Hospital ED, ongoing partnership with Swan Adult Mental Health Service and Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, new partnership with City Mental Health. Top of page

4. Funding

• Round 1
  • NSPP funding
    • 2006/07 - $323,360
    • 2007/08 - $302,720
    • 2008/09 - $233,920
  • % project funding - not applicable
• Round 2
  • NSPP funding
    • 2009/10 - $220,059
    • 2010/11 - $295,979
  • % project funding - 70%
• Round 3
  • NSPP funding
    • 2011/12 - $301,307
    • 2012/13 - $306,403
  • % project funding - 50%

5. Staffing

• Round 1 (2006/07, 2007/08, 2008/09)
  • Number staff positions funded (FTE) - not applicable
  • Number staff positions filled (FTE) - not applicable
• Round 2 (2009/10, 2010/11)
  • Number staff positions funded (FTE) - 2.6
  • Number staff positions filled (FTE) - 2.6
• Round 3 (2011/12, 2012/13)
  • Number staff positions funded (FTE) - 2.6
  • Number staff positions filled (FTE) - 2.6