Lifeline Research Foundation

The Lifeline Research Foundation conducts research and engages in public education, awareness building and advocacy in relation to suicide prevention. Its research informs the development of evidence-based programs to support Lifeline’s vision for an Australia free of suicide. Lifeline Research Office Chief Research Officer, Anna Brooks believes the Manna Institute fills a vital gap in the Australian research and evaluation environment. 

“Not all suicides have a mental illness component, but certainly many do, and we know there is a disproportionate number of people who tragically take their lives in rural, regional and remote communities,” Anna said. “Geography is a factor, so having representation of people from those areas in every aspect of what we do to understand mental illness and suicide prevention is very important. 

“Lifeline has a footprint outside the major metropolitans, but most of our research projects are via partnerships with metropolitan-based universities, which leaves a lot of gaps in our knowledge. That’s where the Manna Institute partnerships will help to deepen our understanding of the various factors that contribute to suicidality in rural and regional Australia.

“Having lived experience and expertise around rural, regional and remote communities at the forefront of the projects we undertake is absolutely critical. 

“Bringing together a consortium of researchers and stakeholders makes the voice of Manna that much louder. It allows the institute to speak with authority about rural, regional and remote experiences and, with that profile, the institute will have traction in influencing policy. I am looking forward to seeing the Manna Institute go from strength to strength.”

Centre for Mental Health Research

The Centre for Mental Health Research (CMHR) at the Australian National University seeks to improve the mental health of Australians through research, education and policy development. It will provide mentorship to Manna Institute researchers, expertise in research design, and guidance in developing community-based solutions.

However, Acting Co-head of the CMHR, Phil Batterham, said the benefits will be reciprocal.

“Being part of the Manna Institute broadens our horizons and supports our research efforts in rural and regional mental health, where we know there are high levels of need,” Phil said.

“We provide a public health perspective and experience in research design and methodologies, such as clinical trials and longitudinal studies, that contribute to a lifespan perspective. We do a lot of digital intervention research – developing, testing and implementing online therapy programs, which are particularly useful in rural areas where services can be limited.

“It’s very exciting to be working with service partners like Lifeline Direct and Everymind, and a great opportunity to connect with people working at the coal face. If we want our research to make a difference and to inform services, then we have to build these strong partnerships with a wide variety of collaborators, including people with lived experience.

“I have had lived experience of caring for someone with a mental illness so I have seen the importance of having that perspective reflected in research. However, we must ensure it is not tokenistic and we are hearing from those who are experiencing the services and all that’s involved in having a mental illness.

“It is always difficult to influence policy; you chip away and hopefully see incremental change over time. I think that working with the six other regional universities creates a powerful, collective voice and vision for rural and regional mental health in Australia.”

Everymind

Everymind is a national institute dedicated to the prevention of mental ill-health and suicide, and improving wellbeing through the translation and application of research and other types of knowledge. It develops policies, programs and resources that can be scaled to support individuals, organisations and communities. In rural and regional Australia, communities are calling out for more support that is tailored to their specific needs, according to Everymind Director Dr Jaelea Skehan, OAM.

“There is no doubt that we need to bring together the best of community knowledge, lived experience knowledge and research to create the tools for people to make a difference in their own lives,” Dr Skehan said. “It’s critical to be delivering trusted programs that meet people where they are, where they live, where they work, where they parent, and where they connect with a whole range of services.

“When you start truly engaging community in co-designing solutions that work for them, it forces you, as a researcher and program developer, to think very differently. It’s a chance to transform what we are doing in mental health and suicide prevention across the country in real time.

“The Manna Institute is already thinking about cutting-edge issues that people are now grappling with, including the impact of environmental change and adverse events on our community health and wellbeing.

“Research will have the greatest impact when it’s collaborative, when it’s embedded in policy and practice and business as usual. We don’t want pilot programs and one-off pieces of research. We want to build social capital and momentum so that programs have longevity and impact well beyond individual funding cycles.

“I want to see our researchers of the future – the people who will lead our work –extending themselves, and working alongside rather than external to community. That will make for much better research outcomes, but also support better community outcomes. It will help keep our researchers and the knowledge that is generated in those communities, where communities can take ownership of it.”

Lifeline Direct

Lifeline Direct is a wholly owned subsidiary of Lifeline Australia, which delivers a suite of activities and crisis services. Lifeline Direct focuses on supporting the development and implementation of suicide prevention and community wellbeing programs, and CEO Robert Sams believes the Manna Institute is a timely addition to the mental healthcare landscape.

“Mental health and certainly suicide prevention is a real challenge in our society and it finally has attention and an expectation of action,” Robert said. “We urgently need evidence-based services and to work more closely together for the benefit of regional and rural areas, where we know there is significant need.

“The Manna Institute represents a wonderful learning opportunity for Lifeline Direct, where we can work with the best of the best. There’s this nice blend of academia, research and service delivery, which recognises the diversity of rural and remote communities.

“I see potential for learning across the board. We want to learn from those who seek our help, who use our existing counselling, group support and natural disaster recovery services. There is also a chance for the university sector to learn how to interact with service providers like us, and vice-versa.

“We don’t do our work alone; there is no one solution or one suicide prevention and mental health organisation – we have to work across different organisations for communities. The quality of our work can only improve when our team is open to feedback from quality research and also able to contribute to meaningful research.

“Manna’s commitment to a genuine team effort … I think that’s what will make a big difference here. Instead of being in competition, we are in concert with one another and translating research into programs for real people in real locations. That’s why I’m really proud and thankful we’re involved.”