Our Healthy Clarence: A Community-Driven Wellbeing Initiative

Nicholas Powell, Hazel Dalton, David Perkins, Robyn Considine, Sue Hughes, Samantha Osborne and Richard Buss
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Nicholas Powell: Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health, University of Newcastle, Orange 2800, Australia
Hazel Dalton: Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health, University of Newcastle, Orange 2800, Australia
David Perkins: Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health, University of Newcastle, Orange 2800, Australia
Robyn Considine: School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan 2308, Australia
Sue Hughes: New School of Arts Neighbourhood Centre, South Grafton 2460, Australia
Samantha Osborne: Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health, University of Newcastle, Orange 2800, Australia
Richard Buss: Mental Health & Drug and Alcohol Services, Northern NSW Local Health District, Lismore 2480, Australia

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 19, 1-17

Abstract: In 2015–2016, the Clarence Valley in Northern New South Wales, Australia, experienced an unexpectedly high number of deaths by suicide, and the resulting distress was exacerbated by unhelpful press coverage. The local response was to adopt a community-wide positive mental health and wellbeing initiative. This paper describes the process and achievements of the initiative called ‘Our Healthy Clarence’. Key stakeholders were interviewed at year two and relevant documents reviewed. Data were analysed using document and thematic analysis. Our Healthy Clarence was established following community consultation, including forums, interviews, surveys and workshops. It adopted a strengths-based approach to suicide prevention, encompassing positive health promotion, primary and secondary prevention activities, advocacy, and cross-sectoral collaboration. A stakeholder group formed to develop and enact a community mental health and wellbeing plan. Factors contributing to its successful implementation included a collective commitment to mental health and wellbeing, clarity of purpose, leadership support from key local partners, a paid independent coordinator, and inclusive and transparent governance. Stakeholders reported increased community agency, collaboration, optimism and willingness to discuss mental health, suicide and help-seeking. Our Healthy Clarence draws ideas from mental health care, community development and public health. This initiative could serve as a model for other communities to address suicide, self-harm and improve wellbeing on a whole-of-community scale.

Keywords: wellbeing; community-driven initiative; mental health capacity building; collaboration; public health; community development; mental health promotion; suicide prevention; rural (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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