Burdekin Mental Health Foundation

1. Project Profile

Project Name(s)	Burdekin Mental Health Foundation
Funded Organisation	Burdekin Community Association
Geographical Area	Local
State/Territory	Queensland
Approach(s)	Universal and Selected
Individual/Group	Individual and Group
LIFE Action Areas	Improving the evidence base and understanding of suicide prevention 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 Men Youth Indigenous populations People living with a mental illness People who have previously attempted suicide People who have self harmed Rural and remote communities People living with an alcohol or other drug problem Whole of community Other

2. Project Description

The Burdekin Community Association was first funded under the NSPP in 2007 to establish and provide the Burdekin Mental Health Foundation Program, which conducts a community-based education and awareness program on suicide prevention, mental health support and mental health wellbeing awareness in the Burdekin Shire in Queensland. The aim of the Burdekin Mental Health Foundation is to be pro-active, preventative and to have a holistic approach to the mental health and wellbeing of the community.

3. Activities

The following core 'community projects' were developed:

• Mental Health First Aid
• Help When You Need It. A specially tailored youth program was purchased and circulated to all schools in the Burdekin Shire
• Burdekin Mental Health Foundation website. The primary role of the website is to raise community awareness and provide practical education and information to ensure that local people will find the best and easiest path to get the help they need
• Information packs covering mental health issues. Mental Health Information Packs target a broad community cross section, including farming, business and schools
• Suicide intervention training courses Community Response to Eliminating Suicide (CORES). The Burdekin Shire became the first in Queensland to adopt the CORES suicide prevention program. CORES is a whole-of-community education program targeting community leaders, youth leaders and mentors, sports administrators, church leaders, etc. Anyone with a commitment to the well-being of the community. CORES teaches the skills to identify mental health issues in another person – a friend, family member, work, social or sporting colleague – and to offer them help when they need it
• Clinical consultation counselling: Professional counselling consultations give those community members who are in financial hardship the opportunity to get help, who would otherwise not receive this service
• Bereavement support. Top of page

4. Funding

• Round 1
  • NSPP funding
    • 2006/07 - Data not supplied
    • 2007/08 - $99,000.00
    • 2008/09 - $88,000.00
  • % project funding - 95%
• Round 2
  • NSPP funding
    • 2009/10 - $71,000.00
    • 2010/11 - $120,000.00
  • % project funding - 100%
• Round 3
  • NSPP funding
    • 2011/12 - $119,615.10
    • 2012/13 - $121,767.80
  • % project funding - 100%

5. Staffing

• Round 1 (2006/07, 2007/08, 2008/09)
  • Number staff positions funded (FTE) - 1
  • Number staff positions filled (FTE) - 1
• Round 2 (2009/10, 2010/11)
  • Number staff positions funded (FTE) - 1
  • Number staff positions filled (FTE) - 2.5
• Round 3 (2011/12, 2012/13)
  • Number staff positions funded (FTE) - 1
  • Number staff positions filled (FTE) - 2