In the absence of national standards in Australia, this guidance represents a critical resource for the sector. The key principles within this guidance document are recommended for all public Area Mental Health and Wellbeing Services (AMHWS). They may also be considered and recommended for a whole-of-health response for improving the safety of consumers at risk of harm of ligature.
- All levels of a health service have a role in clinical governance and consumer safety. This includes board executive, divisional and clinical workplace levels. Furthermore, all staff have a role in work health and safety.
- Ligature events can occur anywhere in a health organisation.
- Ligature training packages should be considered for the whole of health service response, in addition to the mental health workforce.
- Contemporary clinical practices are essential to ensuring consumer safety. Research shows that engaging effectively with consumers improves their satisfaction with care, boosts staff morale, and leads to better reported outcomes for consumers (Desmet et al, 2023; McAllister et al., 2019).
- Health services should strive to support a ‘just culture’ in response to ligature events. This means a workplace environment that promotes open discussion, accountability, and learning from mistakes rather than assigning blame (Liukka et al., 2020).
- Ligature incidents require an emergency response. Early intervention and aggressive resuscitation can reduce the risk of serious injury or death (Ganesan et al, 2018).
- The key principles within this guidance document are recommended for all public Area Mental Health and Wellbeing Services (AMHWS). They may also be considered and recommended for a whole-of-health response for improving the safety of consumers at risk of harm of ligature.
People may use ligature as a way to express extreme distress. To support their recovery, it is important to understand the individual person’s needs and provide a person-centred response.
A comprehensive approach to reducing the risk of deliberate self-harm includes creating a safe and supportive environment, using trauma-informed care, offering individualised treatment and safety or suicide prevention plans, and providing therapy
