ForewordSuicide Prevention AustraliaThe COVID-19 pandemic has proven to be a uniquecrisis: one which has resulted in more than 400,000 liveslost around the globe at the time of writing this paper.Lives that we must remember.We also recognise the impact of COVID-19 extends to millions of others,many of whom have lost their jobs, been separated from their loved ones,and – perhaps for the first time – are struggling with their mental healthand wellbeing.Suicide Prevention Australia is the national peak body for the suicideprevention sector. We count among our members the largest and manyof the smallest suicide prevention and mental health not-for-profits,practitioners, researchers and leaders. We are proud to publish thispaper in partnership with Wesley Mission, which brings more than acentury of expertise in compassionate care for many of the mostvulnerable in our community.We have focused on the broader social and economic factors that weknow link with distress. This is an important departure from a mentalhealth specific approach, which fails to consider the many Australians indistress who do not experience mental illness but are in crisis because oftheir life circumstances. People who are out of work, who areexperiencing violence at home, who are homeless or who have a drug oralcohol addiction and are vulnerable to distress and suicidality.We have provided a positive roadmap of proposals to address the needsof these groups in Australia’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.Importantly, we have focused on protective factors – solutions that iftaken up, will do much to ensure the mental health and wellbeing impactsof the COVID-19 response are minimised.We are pleased to see the Australian Government proactively considerthe mental health and wellbeing of Australians in its National MentalHealth Pandemic Response Plan. Drawing from recent evidence and onthe ground practice, this paper is designed to provide government with aseries of considerations to inform the rollout of the plan. We hope theseconsiderations prove to be useful in designing a considered approach toour recovery effort; one that considers the opportunity that we arepresented with to transform our economy and society for the better.Nieves MurrayChief Executive OfficerReducing distress in the community following the COVID-19 pandemicJune 20204
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