Oral Presentation National Suicide Prevention Conference 2026

Perinatal suicide prevention when supporting First Nations families: a peer-led approach  (130725)

Bec Schafer 1 , Tracey Thompson 1 , Julie Borninkhof 1 , Julie Levin 1
  1. PANDA, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia

According to AIHW, Suicide is currently a leading cause of maternal death in Australia and has significant and long-lasting impacts on the individual, their babies and families, and their communities. This is also the case for First Nations families. However, the definition of maternal death is with 42 days (6 weeks) of the end of a pregnancy, as per the WHO definition. This definition does not accurately capture the incidence of suicide in the perinatal period. 

  

PANDA’s National Perinatal Mental Health Helpline currently delivers approximately 65,000 service delivery touchpoints per year with approximately (17%) of our callers disclosing that they are experiencing suicidal risk or ideation.  

  

PANDA has seen significant growth in First Nations callers to the National helpline, in particular women. Many of these callers are from Queensland, where PANDA is increasingly integrated into the health system and has strong relationships with AACHOs.  

A common thread among First Nations callers, is the value of peer support in the delivery of their care with PANDA. What we notice more and more is the alignment of peer practice to the Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB) paradigm that centers First Nations health and wellbeing. 

 

Through valued peer practice, First Nations mothers are able to speak about their health and wellbeing as they: 

  • Feel heard, and listened to 
  • Are more open to sharing their story, including areas previously undisclosed 
  • Ask for and advocate for additional supports 
  • Are more able to build trust when they have low confidence in the health system 
  • Are more supported through longer term continuity of care (in QLD, NT, VIC) 
  • Able to use narrative and storytelling to talk about their feelings  
  • Feel the power imbalance often experienced is removed and they are able to build rapport even in a telehealth environment 

 

This presentation will explore PANDA Helpline data and insights from Peer Practitioners supporting First Nations callers experiencing suicidal ideation including how we take learnings for suicide prevention work in the perinatal period. We will celebrate the compliment of peer practice and SEWB to provide better care for first nations families.