Building Resilience In the Central Highlands (B-RICH)

This project focuses on early intervention and prevention strategies, such as training and support for parents of adolescents and training for teachers in the Tasmanian Central Highlands.

Program duration

The B-RICH awareness project ran from February 2007 to November 2007. It is hoped that recommendations from the program will be adopted in the future.

Location and people

The B-RICH program serviced the Central Highlands of Tasmania.

Aims

The B-RICH project aimed to increase community capacity and knowledge through:

• suicide awareness and prevention workshops for community groups, health workers and community
• workshops and training for teachers
• social skills and confidence building for young people
• training and support for parents of adolescents.

Activities

• youth mentoring through aquaculture and fly-fishing programs
• consultation with local community groups such as sporting and social clubs
• community suicide forum
• suicide prevention workshops
• theatre production addressing depression and suicide, followed by group discussion
• social skills, confidence building, and bullying awareness workshops in high schools
• investigating career pathways
• social outings
• BBQ for parents of youth participating in programs
• family engagement activities such as a mother/daughter day.

Model

The B-RICH model required a tailored approach that used known suicide prevention initiatives designed for:

• community
• teachers
• youth (12–15 years)
• parents.

Lessons learnt

• Allocate a considerable amount of time to inspire youth to participate in programs.
• Transport to and from events may be required.
• Introducing suicide prevention in remote and rural areas is a gradual process.
• Initial awareness raising can facilitate later participation in training and workshops.
• Youth respond well when activities are fun and localised.

Evaluation information

B-RICH evaluation was conducted largely through analysis of pre and post activity questionnaires.

Umbrella organisation

Go!Highlands Incorporated – Central Highlands Tasmania.

Project partners

Partners who participated in the program with Go! Highlands Inc. included:

• Central Highlands Regional Health Services
• secondary schools
• fly fishing instructors
• Police Citizens Youth Club (PCYC)
• Colony 47 – people working together
• trained facilitators of Suicide Awareness and Prevention Workshops.

Contact

For more information email Tracey Turale tracey.turale@dhhs.tas.gov.au