About the Clearinghouse

The Indigenous Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Clearinghouse was established to enhance and improve access to the Indigenous mental health and suicide prevention evidence base. The Clearinghouse contributed to a series of actions supported by the Australian Government to improve mental health and suicide through the Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan.

The Clearinghouse was managed by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) through funding from the Department of Health.

Since 2019, the AIHW worked closely with First Nations stakeholders and experts through the Indigenous Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Clearinghouse Steering Committee to develop content for the Clearinghouse. The Steering Committee was chaired by Professor Pat Dudgeon and over the years had representation from researchers, service providers, advocates and government from the following organisations:

  • Australian Government Department of Health
  • Australian Health Services Research Institute
  • Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
  • Black Dog Institute
  • Centre of Best Practice in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention
  • Charles Darwin University
  • Edith Cowan University
  • Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia
  • James Cook University
  • Murdoch University
  • National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA)
  • National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO)
  • School of Indigenous Studies, University of Western Australia
  • Suicide Prevention Australia
  • Sydney Local Health District
  • University of Canberra
  • University of Melbourne
  • University of Sydney
  • University of Wollongong 

Objectives

The objectives of the Clearinghouse were to:

  • Improve the evidence base of what works and does not work relating to Indigenous mental health and suicide prevention, including identifying gaps in the evidence
  • Improve access to key information by pulling together the emerging research, evaluation, program and policy initiatives and the evidence from these initiatives
  • Encourage collaboration between researchers and reduce the chance of duplication in research activity.

Main functions

The main functions of the Clearinghouse were to:

  • Identify and increase the accessibility of relevant research and evaluation efforts from government
  • Prepare value-added resources that outline key issues relating to Indigenous mental health and suicide prevention and what government is doing to address these issues
  • Advise on gaps in the available evidence, particularly research and evaluations
  • Advise on priorities for future research and evaluation to fill identified gaps
  • Bring together key experts to discuss these issues at public forums.

Resources available

The main resources available on the Clearinghouse website include:

  • Publications: These papers summarise the key evidence on specific topics related to Indigenous mental health and suicide prevention. Publications have been reviewed by the Steering Committee. The publications prepared by external authors represent the views of those authors.
  • The Research and evaluation register: The Register is a collection of recent research and evaluation projects related to Indigenous mental health and suicide prevention.
  • Key statistics and data: Recent and trend data related to Indigenous mental health and suicide prevention, including data visualisations and downloadable excel files.

Suggested citation

Website

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare [insert year of latest update]. Indigenous Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Clearinghouse. Canberra: AIHW. Viewed [insert date].

Webpage

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare [insert year of latest update of webpage]. Indigenous Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Clearinghouse: [insert title of webpage, e.g. Mental health]. Canberra: AIHW. Viewed [insert date].