StandBy Support After Suicide and the Science of Knowing released the official results from the most recent evaluation of StandBy’s effectiveness in supporting people bereaved or impacted by suicide this week via a hugely popular national webinar event.
The latest round of evidence-based research shows the StandBy program helps reduce the risk of suicidality and loneliness for those bereaved by suicide and plays an important role preventing suicides, in those bereaved.
StandBy released the findings to coincide with International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day 2021 with event speakers: Julian Leeser MP, Chair, Parliamentary Friends of Suicide Prevention, Karen Phillips, General Manager StandBy National, Victoria Visser Director, Science of Knowing and Stephen Scott Partnership Manager StandBy National.
Julian Leeser MP, Chair, Parliamentary Friends of Suicide Prevention introduced the event, and thanked StandBy for the important suicide prevention work they do.
“Suicide prevention is a key priority in Australia with a whole of government approach required to ensure services reach Australians who need them and that all communities are supported. The positive results from the StandBy Outcomes Project reflect the great work done by StandBy,” Mr Leeser said.
“Nobody has ever been ashamed to admit they have a cold or a sore tooth but with suicide or mental health, silence or worse, has always been history’s default position. There are still differences in the treatment of physical and mental illnesses, sadly stigma continues to be to all too common, but I’m pleased to say things are getting better.
“The Federal Government has introduced a commitment for ‘Towards Zero’ for suicide prevention, to bring together Commonwealth and State and Territory Governments, service providers, experts and people with lived experience like you and me, to create a coordinated approach to suicide prevention across Australia.
“I want to thank everyone involved in this very important organisation that is StandBy,” Mr Leeser said.
Well respected research consultancy, the Science of Knowing has facilitated a number of rigorous evaluations of the StandBy model and its efficacy over the almost 20 years of operation.
The most recent study, undertaken 2020-21, measured changes in grief experiences and levels of suicidality for people who have accessed StandBy support, compared with people bereaved by suicide who have not. The study also measured people’s opinions about the support provided by StandBy.
The positive results from this study support those from previous evaluations, indicating that:
- Within 12 months after their loss, people who received StandBy’s support reported significantly lower levels of suicidality and loneliness, than people who had not received StandBy support
- Research has consistently found that StandBy plays an important role in preventing further suicides amongst those bereaved by suicide
StandBy National Partnership Manager Stephen Scott said the results position StandBy as one of the country’s most thoroughly tested and effective services.
“We now have successive randomised control trials that convincingly demonstrate StandBy’s effectiveness, with this project following similar research in 2018,” Mr Scott said.
“It’s uncommon for such a rigorous evaluation methodology to be used in the Australian suicide prevention field.
“The reduction in high levels of suicidality among people bereaved by suicide who accessed StandBy shows the service is a vital suicide prevention resource for this especially at-risk group, and a crucial element in Australia’s suicide prevention strategy.”
Overall, results indicate that satisfaction with the StandBy program remain very high. In particular, people confirmed they would recommend StandBy to others, and believe they would not have received such a high quality of support elsewhere, and that they would not have as easily coped without the support of StandBy.
For more information about StandBy visit www.standbysupport.com.au or call 1300 727 247 for support 24/7.
If you, or someone you know needs immediate help call Triple Zero 000 or one of these services:
- Lifeline 13 11 14 Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 QLife 1800 184 527
StandBy – an initiative funded by the Australian Government.
