Evaluation of suicide prevention activities

Community Connections

Page last updated: January 2014

1. Project Profile

Project Name(s)Community Connections
Funded OrganisationCAN (Mental Health)
(previously referred to as Consumer Activity Network)
Geographical AreaNational
State/TerritoryNew South Wales
Approach(es)Indicated
Individual/GroupIndividual and Group
LIFE Action Areas
  • Building individual resilience and the capacity for self-help
  • Implementing standards and quality in suicide prevention
Target Groups
  • People living with a mental illness

2. Project Description

The Consumer Activity Network (Mental Health) Inc. (CAN) is an independent, not for profit, consumer run organisation for people with a mental illness. One of CAN's aims is to promote and enhance mental health wellbeing and recovery journeys for people with a mental illness. Two major project components are delivered through NSPP funding:
  • Phone Connections: A national peer support and information referral line for three (3) nights per week – a total of 16 hours. Phone Connections aims to socially connect consumers by a national telephone peer support line, thereby decreasing consumers accessing crisis services, when not warranted.
  • Hospital to Home: a service based at Liverpool which provides practical assistance to mental health consumers and peer support for consumers on discharge from the inpatients units at Liverpool and Campbelltown Hospitals for a period of up to six weeks from discharge, with the aim of assisting consumers to remain out of the inpatient hospital setting (four days per week plus Saturday, a total of 46 hours). The aim of this service is to reduce the re-admission rates into hospital for consumers and to reduce where possible attempted or completed suicide.

3. Activities

Activities undertaken by the project include:
  • Providing the Phone Connections service – providing social connection, information and referral
  • Providing the Hospital to Home service – this service includes home visits, transportation to various appointments, assistance with shopping, hospital visits.
  • Participation in a broad range of external training, conferences and workshops. Top of page

4. Funding

  • Round 1
    • NSPP funding
      • 2006/07 - $318,855
      • 2007/08 - $187,709
      • 2008/09 - $218,436
    • % project funding - 100%
  • Round 2
    • NSPP funding
      • 2009/10 - $264,778
      • 2010/11 - $263,822
    • % project funding - 100%
  • Round 3
    • NSPP funding
      • 2011/12 - $296,380
      • 2012/13 - $312,720
    • % project funding - 100%

5. Staffing

  • Round 1 (2006/07, 2007/08, 2008/09)
    • Number staff positions funded (FTE) - 3.18
    • Number staff positions filled (FTE) - 3.18
  • Round 2 (2009/10, 2010/11)
    • Number staff positions funded (FTE) - 3.18
    • Number staff positions filled (FTE) - 3.18
  • Round 3 (2011/12, 2012/13)
    • Number staff positions funded (FTE) - 3.18
    • Number staff positions filled (FTE) - 3.18