She has devoted two decades to better understanding suicide and its profound impacts. Now University of New England Professor in Social Work Myfanwy Maple has a direct line to Prime Minister Scott Morrison, and the opportunity to help shape life-saving policy.
Professor Maple has just submitted a ground-breaking report on the lived experience of suicide in Australia. It shares unique perspectives of the causes of suicide, where suicide prevention support might best be delivered, and the barriers and enablers to interventions outside traditional medical settings. It comes after she was invited late last year to sit on the expert panel advising the PM's first National Suicide Prevention Advisor, Christine Morgan.
In an intense research effort over the past two months, Professor Maple and her team - including several UNE PhD students and early-career researchers - have drawn on an online survey of more than 1600 people who have first-hand experience of a suicide attempt, caring for someone who is suicidal or have been bereaved by suicide; data from the Eclipse Group for suicide attempt survivors; and analysis of media reports of suicide.
Their efforts build on Professor Maple's dedicated advocacy over many years, most recently as an elected director of Suicide Prevention Australia, deputy chair of the National Suicide Prevention Research Fund, and collaboration with Lifeline, SANE Australia, the Black Dog Institute and Beyond Blue.
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the research I am doing right now, and have been doing for the past 20 years, to inform public policy," Professor Maple said.
"It seeks to answer some big questions and I hope it will translate directly into improved support for vulnerable people and their families.
Importantly, it gives marginalised people who have thought about suicide, attempted suicide or been bereaved by suicide a voice at the national table, and theirs is a valuable voice that is often not heard.
The UNE team's preliminary findings will inform Ms Morgan's interim report to the Prime Minister, due for release in late July.
According to Professor Maple, longer-term strategies will only be effective in addressing Australia's rising suicide rates if they actually meet the needs of those with lived experience of suicide.
"Previously, medical models have dominated how we think about suicide, but that does not resonate with the thousands of people I have spoken to," Professor Maple said. "The stories people tell me are much more complex than a diagnosed mental illness; they are often stories of hardship and trauma and abuse and disadvantage. That complexity hasn't been fully appreciated until now. It's a moment in time to think about suicide prevention differently, and there is no better time than when communities, particularly rural communities, have endured long-standing drought, bushfires, and now a global pandemic.
We are starting to consider the resilience of those who survive, what works for them, supports them and keeps them going.
By considering the social and environmental factors we can hopefully learn how to intervene earlier and provide better support."
Professor Maple said contributing to this important project had been a "mega-event" for the other members of the research team, including UNE PhD student Tania Pearce and UNE graduates Dr Sarah Wayland, Dr Lesley Douglas and Dr Dorothy Ratnarajah.
"Their analysis is going directly to the advisor to inform her report to the Prime Minister," she said. "There aren't too many opportunities in your research career, especially early in your career, when you see your work used nationally, almost immediately."
More than 3000 people die by suicide and there are at least 65,000 attempts each year in Australia. Every suicide creates a ripple effect that flows through families, friendship groups, schools, workplaces and communities.
If this story has raised issues for you or you are concerned about someone else, please phone Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.
