SPR30831 WLF SPA WhitePaper v12 - Flipbook - Page 33
Appendix
Suicide Prevention and COVID-19:
What is working well?
Maintaining a daily routine
54.17%
Exercising regularly
62.50%
Keeping in touch with friends and family
through phone calls, social media or
video conferencing
75.00%
Attending Wesley LifeForce Suicide Prevent
Networks webinars for upskilling on various topics
33.33%
Accessing the Community Hub for resources
support ideas and mental health
45.83%
Promoting initiatives/events through Zoom,
Facebook or any other technological or social
media platforms
70.83%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%
In regard to suicide prevention and the COVID-19 pandemic, 75 per cent of respondents
believed that keeping in touch with friends and family through phone calls, social media or video
conferencing is working well for them. This feeds into the idea that computer and
communications technology are playing key roles in helping individuals remain socially
connected.
Support from government
and service providers
45.45%
Good
Average
31.82%
Below average
Poor
13.64%
9.09%
Of all respondents, 45.45 per cent believe that support from government and service providers
has been average. When asked how support from government and service providers can be
improved, network members provided multiple and varied responses. Some members believed
that ongoing and increased funding for telehealth appointments for mental health counselling is
important for communities that have experienced compounding impacts of disaster trauma. This
also includes greater coordination from government in preventive and educational services to
address adverse psychosocial outcomes. There is also a recommendation to continue funding
cycles on a long-term basis, with attention given to financial counselling and technological
services for ease of access to online support.
Reducing distress in the community following the COVID-19 pandemic
June 2020
33
