Study of Suicide After Being on the WorkCover System.
Creative Ministries Network has initiated a follow up study into one of the findings of our 2002 study, ‘Work Factors in Suicide’. About one-third of the 109 suicide cases we tracked on the Coronial data base identified a work injury or work-related mental illness as a factor in the person’s suicide.
The project aims to identify:
- the suicide risk for those on WorkCover benefits compared with suicide rates in the general population,
- those factors which contribute to this risk, and
- factors which lessen the risk of suicide.
The Victorian WorkCover Authority is able to assist this research by providing aggregate data from the VWA data-base of WorkCover beneficiaries who died while on WorkCover benefits from committing suicide.
The Victorian Coroner will also assist with access to their data base on suicide.
The project will also follow up a number of families and employers of the deceased to see if they wish to contribute to the research. CMN will gain the participation of families without compromising the confidentiality, privacy and integrity of VWA and Coronial data sources.
Support measures have been put in place to ensure that interviewees were not harmed by their participation.
CMN’s findings intend to enlighten and strengthen WorkCover and support agency policy and practice in relation to benefit recipients.
The budget for this study will determine the extent to which qualitative data from family members can be accessed. A budget of $20,000 will ensure a good balance of quantitative and qualitative data.
Enquiries: John Bottomley, Director, Creative Ministries Network 9827 8322 or john.bottomley@cmn.unitingcare.org.au
[...] Creative Ministries Network provides excellent support for families who have suffered a workplace [...]
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May 15, 2009 at 12:12 pm
I think everyone who has a friend or family member suffering a work related injury or disease would welcome this study. I know quite a few injured people for whom suicide seems the only answer out of their life altering and restricting injuries.
Imagine a father of small children never able to pick them up or unable to even unzip his own fly. No intimacy with his wife, unable to sleep more than 3 hours, constant array of medications that seem to add more problems than solve, and add the obvious psychological impact that has on a family.
When the Study is completed, what then? Who gets it and what action will be taken to ensure support for the injured?
Sheryl Dell
November 3, 2009 at 11:34 am