The Australian Government's National Suicide Prevention Strategy promotes suicide prevention activities across the Australian population, as well as for specific at-risk groups.

Its goal is to reduce deaths by suicide and reduce suicidal behaviour by:

• adopting a whold of community approach to suicide prevention to extend and enhance public understanding of suicide and its causes; and
• increasing support and care available to people, families and communities affected by suicide or suicidal behaviour by providing better support systems.

Increased funding for suicide prevention activities through the Expanding Suicide Prevention Programme was received through the Commonwealth's component of the Council of Australian Governments' (COAG) National Action Plan on Mental Health 2006 - 2011.

Responsibility for managing the National Suicide Prevention Strategy rests with the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.

GPSA administers the National Suicide Prevention Strategy pursuant to an agreement with the Dept of Health & Ageing and assisted with expertise and funding from the Dept of Health, Mental Health Unit.  The EPDGP has been contracted to convene and host meetings of key stakeholders and to facilitate SQUARE training.  The Suicide, Questions, Answers and Resources package targets audiences that include GPs, people who work in the specialist mental health sector and service providers around social issues.  It fits within a continuum of mental health training that will be available across the State.

SQUARE Training has been run in its 6 hour format in Whyalla and Pt Lincoln for GPs and other relevant health providers. It has also been run in its 3 hour community focused format across inner Eyre as part of our Drought program.