Units / PSY5021
PSY5021 · Suicide prevention and support
2026 Handbook6 credit pointsLevel 5Psychology
Last checked: 23 Aug 2026 UTCOverview
In this unit you will learn how to communicate about suicide safely, identify key drivers of suicide, and understand the skills required to provide support to individuals and communities. You will reflect on your capacity to reduce suicide and develop a plan for self-care when supporting people around suicide. You will integrate knowledge regarding suicide facts and trends, theories, risk and protective factors, and stigma to develop an understanding of why suicide happens. Systems-based suicide prevention approaches for communities and government policies will be explored, with a focus on groups of people who experience disproportionate rates of suicide. A key focus of the unit will be the importance of lived / living experience understanding and inclusion.
Offerings
| Campus | Teaching period | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Monash Online | Teaching period 2 | Monash Online (MO) |
| Monash Online | Teaching period 5 | Monash Online (MO) |
Assessment
The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.
| # | Assessment | Type | Weight | Hurdle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Case study analysis and reflection: Understanding experiences (1,500 words) | Written | 40% | — |
| 2 | Promotional communication: Responding to distress (up to 10 pages) | Written | 60% | — |
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Requisites
prohibitions
- PSY3251 — Suicide prevention and support
prerequisite
- PSY5011 — Foundations of mental health practice
- PSY5012 — Advocates in Indigenous health and wellbeing
- PSY5013 — Digital technologies in mental health care
- PSY5014 — Communication skills for mental health and wellbeing
- PSY5015 — Supporting families for child and youth mental health
- PSY5016 — Supporting mental health and wellbeing in older adults
- PSY5017 — Disability and inclusive practice
- PSY5018 — Mental health and wellbeing in the workplace
Joined by OR.
Learning outcomes
- Critically evaluate the complex individual, interpersonal, social and cultural influences on suicide.
- Effectively and safely communicate suicide prevention and support concepts to a variety of audiences, including individuals, communities, and organisations.
- Demonstrate safe and empowering integration of lived / living experience expertise to prevent and respond to suicide risk in diverse communities.
- Appraise contemporary approaches in suicide prevention and support to identify avenues for systemic change.
- Engage in self-reflection to enhance awareness and skills for suicide prevention and support provision.
Workload
You should expect to spend 20-24 hours per week on this unit to achieve the learning outcomes: • 5-6 hours self-directed learning journeys • 4-5 hours readings or activities • 7-8 hours skills-based assessment tasks Each week there will be an optional Zoom session.
| Activity | Duration |
|---|---|
| Tutorials | 6 hours |
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