Expression of Interest: Becoming an Alternatives to Suicide (Alt2Su) Peer Group Facilitator in South Australia

About the Embedding Alternatives to Suicide (Alt2Su) Project:

Throughout 2022 and 2024 LELAN is bringing the Alternatives to Suicide (Alt2Su) approach to South Australia. Alternatives to Suicide was developed by the Wildflower Alliance (formerly the Western Mass Recovery Learning Community) in the US. Alt2Su peer-led community-based groups centre mutual connection and meaning making around suicide distress, thoughts and experiences. They offer non-clinical spaces where people can be honest about their experiences without fear of forced treatment, other forms of coercion, or risk assessment that shuts conversation down.

Eligibility:

Alternatives to Suicide Peer Group Facilitator Training is available to people aged over 18 in South Australia with a personal lived experience of suicide distress, who want to facilitate Alt2Su groups. Facilitators need to be willing to openly identify as such in the groups. Applicants will need to be ready, willing and able to commit to facilitating the groups once completing the training.

Whilst the project is being funded, Alt2Su facilitators are reimbursed as LELAN volunteers. To be a LELAN volunteer, you will need to have all appropriate police and/or working with children checks.

An Information Session about Being an Alt2Su Peer Group Facilitator will be held online on Tuesday October 29th (11am-12pm ACST) and a repeat session on Wednesday October 30th (6-7pm ACST). This session provides the opportunity to ask questions and learn more about what facilitating an Alt2Su group looks like and the support that LELAN can provide. You can register for the session here.

3-Day Alt2Su Peer Group Facilitator Training:

The next 3-day Alt2Su Peer Group Facilitator Training session is scheduled for November 27th. Attendance at all sessions is required to successfully complete the training.

About the Training:

Facilitator training will be held in person over three days (9am to 5pm). Participants will not be reimbursed for the training but training costs are covered.

If you want to be an Alt2Su Peer Group Facilitator respond to the questions below. Expressions of Interest close November 10st at 5pm and people will be notified soon after. For further information, visit www.lelan.org.au/alt2su or contact us via amy@lelan.org.au or 0411 420 787.

Please note that your responses below are used by LELAN to increase our understanding of who is engaging with our projects and work. As an organisation we are committed to including diverse perspectives and ensuring that various identities and experiences that people bring to the lived experience community are recognised. We will not disclose personal and/or identifying information about a person without their consent or in a way that they do not agree with. You have the option of providing no response if uncomfortable or unsure of disclosing this information, particularly for questions five and six.

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* 1. Your details:

Name

Pronouns (e.g. she/her, he/him, they/them)

Post Code

Email Address

Phone Number

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* 2. Please indicate which of the following best applies to you.

I am someone who has struggled with suicidal distress, thoughts and experiences myself.

I am someone who has struggled with suicidal distress, thoughts and experiences myself AND I am working in a peer support role supporting others going through similar struggles.

I am someone who has struggled with suicidal distress, thoughts and experiences myself AND I am working in a clinical or other direct support role (NOT a peer support role) supporting others going through similar struggles.

Other:

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* 3. Please confirm your availability for the following:
To attend all sessions of the Peer Group Facilitator Training on the 28th, 29th and 30th of November 2023;
To facilitate weekly or fortnightly groups of 90 minutes duration with another facilitator;
To attend reflective circles at least 1x per month (60 minutes)

I am available to attend the training sessions

I am available to facilitate groups weekly

I am available to facilitate groups fortnightly

I can be available to attend reflective circles once per month

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* 4. Do you have a current police and/or working with vulnerable people check? If not, would you consent to LELAN initiating one on your behalf (at no cost)?

Yes - I have checks that are current

No - I do not have checks but am willing to have LELAN initiate them

I do not consent to any relevant checks or screenings

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* 5. Please indicate which locations in Adelaide you are available to facilitate groups:

Northern Metro

Central Metro

Southern Metro

Online

Regional SA (please specify)

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* 6. Some information about the way you personally identify (please tick as many as apply):

Aboriginal

Torres Strait Islander

Caucasian (white person of European origin)

Person of colour

Culturally and linguistically diverse

Refugee

Migrant

Sexually Diverse (eg. lesbian, gay, bisexual etc)

Hetrosexual

Intersex

Trans or gender diverse

Youth (25 or younger)

Older person (65 or older)

Living in regional, rural or remote area of Australia

Other (please specify)

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* 7. Some information about your personal lived experience (please check as many as apply)

Lived/living experience of distress and/or mental health issues

Living with a psychosocial disability

Carer of someone living with a psychosocial disability

Living with other disability

Living with other chronic illness

Carer of someone living with other disability/chronic illness

Lived experience of homelessness and/or housing instability

Lived experience of alcohol and/or other drug use

Lived experience of partner or family violence

Lived experience of sexual abuse and/or violence

Lived experience of childhood trauma

Lived experience of intergenerational trauma

Lived experience of being neurodivergent

Lived experience of being under the Mental Health Act (eg. being 'sectioned' or detained ITO/CTO, etc)

Lived experience of public inpatient mental health services

Lived experience of private inpatient mental health services

Lived experience as a veteran or first responder

Other (please specify)

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* 8. Why do you want to be a Peer Group Facilitator for Alternatives to Suicide support groups?

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* 9. Tell us about the skills, experience and ideas you will bring to Alternatives to Suicide groups as a Facilitator?

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* 10. Please read the following article about Alternatives to Suicide: www.communitypsychology.com/new-approach-to-suicide/ What did you think about the information provided in the article about the Alternatives to Suicide approach? What resonated for you and do you have any concerns?

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* 11. Is there anything that will make your participation in the training sessions easier or more comfortable?

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* 12. If you could suggest one radical or innovative idea for how to improve things for people experiencing suicide distress or crisis what would you suggest?

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* 13. Thank you for taking the time to complete these questions and your commitment to using your lived experience for change. You will receive a phone call from our peer project worker Amy to notify you of next steps by Tuesday November 5th.

If you need more notice as to whether or not you are successful (e.g. to take time off work), or if you have any questions please reach out to Peer Project Worker Amy at amy@lelan.org.au or call LELAN on 0411 420 787.

If you have any further comments please provide them in the box below.

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* 14. A couple of final things for us to check off:

If I am not already subscribed to the LELAN newsletter I would like to be added to the list

I consent to my answers to question 12 being used in advocacy discussions, presentations and position statements, reports or as quotes on social media knowing I will not be able to be identified and they will be attributed to 'LELAN community member'