A SUICIDE prevention program that could cut one-fifth of the suicide death rate has received recognition for its ground-breaking use of data.
Newcastle was one of the five pilot sites for The Black Dog Institute's LifeSpan project, which has been recognised by Research Australia as a finalist for the Data Innovation Award in the Health and Medical Awards on November 14.
The project, which collates and analyses suicide data to provide community-specific tools, intervention and prevention techniques, aimed to train thousands of high school students and community "gatekeepers" such as GPs and local authorities in evidence-based ways to reduce the loss of life.
Research Australia chief Nadia Levin said LifeSpan had shed new light on a subject which traditionally stayed in the shadows.
"By bringing real-world information to communities, LifeSpan can help tailor engagement techniques and prevention tools that will literally save lives," she said.
Lifeline: 13 11 14.
