ALIVE – Suicide Prevention and Intervention Program

Managing clients who are at risk can be extremely challenging, anxiety provoking and time consuming for any health professional.  As a GP, you are more likely to see people at risk than any other health professional. ALIVE is staffed by psychologists and social workers who offer free, brief service for up to three months for clients who present with suicidal ideation and self harming behaviours.

The ALIVE Team can see clients who are under the care of a GP who are identified at risk of suicide or self-harm due to a situational crisis and are between 18-65 years of age.  The team is available from 8.30am – 4pm Monday to Friday. ALIVE  Program Aims

• To decrease incidence of suicide and or/self-harm behaviours
• To facilitate continuity of care
• To decrease the need for hospitalisation
• To avoid duplication of services, by linking your client into the most appropriate services

Service and Provision to the GP This is a free service to all clients between the ages of 18-65 years

• A responsive service which aims to see the client in 72 hours;
• Linking clients to longer term support;
• Direct counselling to your clients;
• Education and training regarding self-harm and suicide;
• Client management advice; and
• Debriefing opportunities.

Referral Process

Patients are referred to the ALIVE program in one of two ways:

Via the patient’s GP, in which case the  GP fills out the referral form (found on the website or faxed by request) and sends it to PPCN. Once the referral is received, one of the ALIVE Team will contact the client to arrange an appointment

OR

If the client presents to the Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital Emergency Department and Self  Harm and Crisis Counselling Service (SHACCS) with suicidal behaviour, then the SCGH procedures will be followed

This is not a crisis service – clients who are actively suicidal need to be referred to existing emergency or mental health services as follows:

• Mental Health Emergency Response Line – Phone:  1300 555 788
• Swan Adult Mental Health – Phone: 9347 5700