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Head of the National Suicide Prevention Office announced
The National Mental Health Commission welcomes the announcement by The Hon. Emma McBride, Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, of the appointment of Dr Alex Hains to the position of Head of the National Suicide Prevention Office (NSPO).
Date published:
For much of the last 12 months, Alex has acted in the role of Head, NSPO, leading the team to deliver the National Suicide Prevention Strategy 2025-20235. This Strategy outlines an evidence-based compassionate suicide prevention system that unifies the efforts of governments, communities, and service providers to improve suicide prevention outcomes across Australia.
Prior to this, Alex was the Deputy CEO at the National Mental Health Commission where he led the development of the world’s first Child Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy, which was launched in 2021. Alex’s work in the community has been both clinical, community-based and voluntary. He also led the establishment of one of the most successful regional suicide prevention collaboratives in Australia, with over 40 member organisations and community groups involved.
David McGrath, Chief Executive Officer at the National Mental Health Commission described Alex as “a senior leader in mental health and suicide prevention with a strong track record of providing strategic vision, leading system change across complex environments and harnessing the combined efforts of diverse stakeholders.”
He said: “This is an appointment that will bring stability to the team at the National Suicide Prevention Office and support the development of a sustainable future for the NSPO and systems reform. I know Alex’s appointment will be much welcomed by the NSPO team, people with a lived and living experience of suicide and those working in suicide prevention who have long been advocating for thoughtful leadership and a commitment to collaboration to achieve much needed reform.”
The NSPO is now well underway in the development of the National Suicide Prevention Outcomes Framework which will align with the direction of national efforts as set out in the National Suicide Prevention Strategy. The Outcomes Framework will define people-centred outcomes, describing the impact of suicide prevention efforts, and how to measure progress in reducing distress and lives lost to suicide.
For more information on the development of the National Suicide Prevention Outcomes Framework, please click here.
To register your interest in receiving information on the work of the NSPO and how to get involved, please click here.
Tags:
Suicide prevention
Acknowledgement of Country
The Commission acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands and waters on which we live, work and learn.
Diversity
The Commission is committed to embracing diversity and eliminating all forms of discrimination in the provision of health services. The Commission welcomes all people irrespective of ethnicity, lifestyle choice, faith, sexual orientation and gender identity.
Lived Experience
We acknowledge the individual and collective contributions of those with a lived and living experience of mental ill-health and suicide, and those who love, have loved and care for them. Each person’s journey is unique and a valued contribution to Australia’s commitment to mental health suicide prevention systems reform.
