Our Healthy Clarence
A Community-Driven Wellbeing Initiative
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 15501564 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Nicholas Powell (0000-0002-2958-9854, Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health, corresponding author), Hazel Dalton (0000-0002-5816-4548, Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health), Deion Perkins (0000-0001-9739-7339, Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health), Robyn Considine (0000-0002-1757-5148, University of Newcastle Australia), Susan Hughes (0000-0001-6940-8213), Sue Hughes (New School of Arts Neighbourhood Centre, South Grafton 2460, Australia), Samantha Osborne (Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health), Richard Buss (Northern Sydney Local Health District) |
| Year | 2019 |
| Volume | 16 |
| Issue | 19 |
| Pages | 3691-3691 |
| Publication date | 2019-09-30 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601 |
| Publisher | Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH) |
| DOI | 10.3390/ijerph16193691 |
| PMID | 31575071 |
| OpenAlex | W2975022446 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 5 |
| References cited | 23 |
In 2015-2016, the Clarence Valley in Northern New South Wales, Australia, experienced an unexpectedly high number of deaths by suicide, and the resulting distress was exacerbated by unhelpful press coverage. The local response was to adopt a community-wide positive mental health and wellbeing initiative. This paper describes the process and achievements of the initiative called 'Our Healthy Clarence'. Key stakeholders were interviewed at year two and relevant documents reviewed. Data were analysed using document and thematic analysis. Our Healthy Clarence was established following community consultation, including forums, interviews, surveys and workshops. It adopted a strengths-based approach to suicide prevention, encompassing positive health promotion, primary and secondary prevention activities, advocacy, and cross-sectoral collaboration. A stakeholder group formed to develop and enact a community mental health and wellbeing plan. Factors contributing to its successful implementation included a collective commitment to mental health and wellbeing, clarity of purpose, leadership support from key local partners, a paid independent coordinator, and inclusive and transparent governance. Stakeholders reported increased community agency, collaboration, optimism and willingness to discuss mental health, suicide and help-seeking. Our Healthy Clarence draws ideas from mental health care, community development and public health. This initiative could serve as a model for other communities to address suicide, self-harm and improve wellbeing on a whole-of-community scale
CLARITY · Mental health · Political science · Psychiatry · Public health · Public relations · Qualitative research · Sociology · Stakeholder · Thematic analysis · Community Health and Development · Health disparities and outcomes · Health, psychology, and well-being · Medicine · Nursing · Psychology
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| Citations per year | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2021 - 2025 (5) |
| Highly cited | No |