University research theme/s: Healthy people, families and communities
La Trobe researchers embarked on a critical initiative alongside individuals with lived experiences from the Autistic and LGBTQIA+ communities to address the alarming rates of suicide within these marginalised groups. Associate Professor Carina Chan and recent PhD graduate Dr Karien Hill (School of Psychology & Public Health), Associate Professor Darren Hedley, Associate Professor Josephine Barbaro and Mick Leahy (OTARC) collaborated with a diverse team of experts, including Associate Professor Mark Stokes (Deakin University) and David Murphy.
Their efforts culminated in developing and launching the Suicide Response Project website (www.suicideresponseproject.com), unveiled at the world first Mental Wellbeing and Suicide Prevention in Autism Conference in 2021, hosted by OTARC. This 8-step programme offers a wealth of resources, comprising comprehensive modules, animated videos, and downloadable fact sheets. It was co-developed with people with lived experiences from the Autistic and LGBTQIA+ communities. The content is tailored to combat myths about how Autistic people may express suicidal thoughts.
Impact
The impact of these resources was further amplified by expanding reach and accessibility through:
- the adaptation and integration into the R U OK? website (Views: 44K page, 50K video, 325K R U OK? social media posts)
- a New South Wales Government’s Agency for Clinical Innovation resource recommendation on their Neurodivergent People website
- resources translation into Portuguese
- website update in 2025 to be accessible in all languages.
This initiative aims to foster a culture of support and understanding through strategic partnerships and collaborative efforts, ultimately saving lives and promoting mental wellbeing within these vulnerable communities.
Supporters
Suicide Prevention Australia, Untapped, The Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, AMAZE, ASPECT, Different Journeys, Healthy Autistic Life Lab, the Emotions Clinic, Australia.
United Nations Sustainability Goals
Contact otarc@latrobe.edu.au for more information about this project.
