Working towards a holistic model of effective suicide prevention requires a range of strategies that meets the needs of groups across the community — professionals, health and community workers, and the diversity of community members, including youth, seniors, individuals from different ethnic or indigenous backgrounds, and other groups with special needs (De Leo, 1998). In recent years, web-based solutions have become increasingly of interest to government and practitioners as a potential means of meeting community needs for information and support, as well as a way of facilitating community-based action and networking. Research is therefore needed to identify effective ways of achieving such goals.

As a result, the ACROSSnet online support system for mental health workers in rural, remote and regional areas is being developed as a collaborative project across three universities — Queensland University of Technology, the Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention (AISRAP) at Griffith University, and the Centre for Online Health at University of Queensland — and five industry partners (Queensland Health as one of the formal participants in the cross-government Queensland Government Youth Suicide Prevention Strategy 2003 - 2008, Kids Help Line, Lifeline, the Seniors Interest Branch — Queensland Department of Families). The project aims to exploit the advantages offered by an online system for both personalised and more general information and support at two levels: for community members, and for mental health professionals and community workers working in the field of suicide prevention. This includes individuals working in areas such as teaching, youth work, community development and police work, where at-risk individuals may be identified.

ACROSSnet aims to provide appropriate and reliable information about suicide and related topics for individuals right across the community. More specifically, however, the project focuses on the potential of online support mechanisms to address the needs of workers, who face an array of challenges that are outlined below.

We recognise that a holistic approach to suicide prevention requires that individuals have choice in the ways they meet their needs. ACROSSnet therefore both supplements existing networks and activities offered for workers by other organisations; and itself offers ‘real world’ options and activities that extend and complement the interactive web site that is the hub of the project. These include workshops conducted in a wide range of locations throughout Queensland, that pass on useful information and facilitate local networking; and a specialised library service that offers books, journal articles and other information for mail out to remote areas. The online support system therefore aims to provide an integrated range of solutions to the problems faced by rural and remote health and community workers.

For more information about ACROSSnet, click on one of the links in the 'About ACROSSnet' menu on the left.