18150
12-Apr-20
1 of 10 level: credit: planned review date: sub-field: purpose:
SOCIAL SERVICE WORK IN SUICIDE
INTERVENTION
Demonstrate knowledge of mental health and mental health services for suicide intervention
6
9
February 2003
Social Services
People credited with this unit standard are able to: demonstrate knowledge of mental health in relation to suicide intervention; analyse the roles and functions of workers from mental health occupational groups in the provision of mental health services for suicide intervention; and analyse the provision of mental health services in the local community related to suicide intervention. entry information: accreditation option:
Open.
Evaluation of documentation and visit by NZQA, industry and teaching professional in the same field from another provider. moderation option: A centrally established and directed national moderation system has been set up by Community Support Services
ITO Limited (Careerforce).
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New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2020

18150
12-Apr-20
2 of 10 special notes:
SOCIAL SERVICE WORK IN SUICIDE
INTERVENTION
Demonstrate knowledge of mental health and mental health services for suicide intervention
1 People awarded credit in this unit standard are able to demonstrate knowledge of te tino rangatiratanga and k āwanatanga of the Treaty of Waitangi, and are able to demonstrate knowledge of how to apply the articles of the Treaty of Waitangi to social services. They are able to apply this knowledge to the context of assessment for this unit standard (for further clarification, please refer to Unit 7927, Demonstrate knowledge of the application of the Treaty of Waitangi in the social services ).
2 Cultural concepts of mental health for Māori may be based upon but are not limited to: Te Whare Tapa
Whā, Te Wheke, Nga Poutama. Pacific Nation concepts may be defined according to the concepts of one Pacific Nation. Other tauiwi concepts should be expressed as holistic concepts of health, which may include but are not limited to the Ottawa Charter for
Health Promotion 1986, and the following definition of health and wellness - “Health and wellness are states of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” World
Health Organisation (WHO) 1946.
3 Social service worker is used as a term to refer to the person seeking award of credit in this unit standard.
Social service worker may include but is not limited to: community worker, counsellor, kaiāwhina, social worker, kaitautoko, youth worker, and others who deliver social services, whether paid or unpaid.
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New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2020

18150
12-Apr-20
3 of 10
SOCIAL SERVICE WORK IN SUICIDE
INTERVENTION
Demonstrate knowledge of mental health and mental health services for suicide intervention
4 Enterprise standards include but are not limited to: service provider strategic plans, kaupapa, governing legislation, staff manuals, service provider protocols.
5 Resources related to mental health with specific relevance to suicide intervention include but are not limited to: a American Psychiatric Association Task Force on
DSM-IV. c1994. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders - DSM-IV .
Washington, DC: American Psychiatric
Association. (People awarded credit in this unit standard demonstrate a beginning awareness of the role of DSM-IV in the classification of mental disorders.) b Durie, Mason. 1998 2nd Ed. Whaiora -
Māori
Health Development. Auckland: Oxford University
Press. c McDowell, Heather; Ziginskas, Danute; eds.
1994. Feeling stink - A resource on young people's mental health issues for those who work with them. Wellington: Ministry of Health.
d Mental Health Foundation. 1997. Young People and Depression: a Comprehensive resource for people working with youth . Auckland: Mental
Health Foundation. e National Health Committee. 1996. Guidelines for the treatment and management of depression by primary healthcare professionals . Wellington:
National Health Committee.
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New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2020

18150
12-Apr-20
4 of 10
SOCIAL SERVICE WORK IN SUICIDE
INTERVENTION
Demonstrate knowledge of mental health and mental health services for suicide intervention
6 Resources related to suicide intervention include but are not limited to: a Coggan, Carolyn; Dickinson, Pauline; Rimm,
Michael; Cherrington, Jane. 1999. A Practical
Guide to Coping With Suicide . Auckland: Mental
Health Foundation. b Ellis, Pete M.; Collings, Sunny C. D.; Eds.
October 1997. Mental Health in New Zealand from a Public Health Perspective . Wellington:
Public Health Group, Ministry of Health. c Joseph, Paul (Ati Hau). 1997. M āori Youth
Suicide in Aotearoa: Selected Interviews with
Māori Elders. Auckland: The University of
Auckland: Iri Masters Thesis Series Number 10. d Ministry of Health, Ministry of Youth Affairs, and
Te Puni Kōkiri - Ministry of Māori Development.
1999. In Our Hands: New Zealand Youth Suicide
Prevention Strategy - Kia Piki Te Ora o Te
Tamariki: Strengthening Youth Wellbeing.
Wellington: Ministry of Health, Ministry of Youth
Affairs, and Te Puni Kōkiri. e Ministry of Health and National Health Committee.
1998. Young People at Risk of Suicide: A Guide for Schools. Wellington: Ministry of Education. f Royal New Zealand College of General
Practitioners and Ministry of Youth Affairs. 1999.
Guidelines for Primary Care Providers: Detection and Management of Young People at Risk of
Suicide. Wellington: Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners and Ministry of Youth
Affairs.
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New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2020

18150
12-Apr-20
5 of 10
SOCIAL SERVICE WORK IN SUICIDE
INTERVENTION
Demonstrate knowledge of mental health and mental health services for suicide intervention g Royal New Zealand College of General
Practitioners and Ministry of Youth Affairs. 1999.
A Quick Reference for Primary Care Providers:
Detection & Management of Young People at Risk of Suicide. Wellington: Royal New Zealand
College of General Practitioners and Ministry of
Youth Affairs. h Smith, Don; Beautrais, Annette. December 1999.
"Identifying young people at risk of suicide".
Social Work Now 14:23-34.
Please note that at the time of registration, there were no specific resources recommended related to suicide intervention with older persons.
Elements and Performance Criteria element 1
Demonstrate knowledge of mental health in relation to suicide intervention. performance criteria
1.1 Mental health is described according to cultural concepts.
Range: cultural concepts of mental health - Māori, one Tauiwi culture.
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New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2020

1.2
1.3
1.4
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SOCIAL SERVICE WORK IN SUICIDE
INTERVENTION
Demonstrate knowledge of mental health and mental health services for suicide intervention
Mental health is described in terms of a continuum which ranges from mental well being, through 'something is not quite right' through to serious mental illness.
Range: continuum - behaviour which is considered normal for a particular person, behaviour which is considered normal for a particular person but difficult for the person and/or others affected by the person, behaviour which is considered abnormal for a particular person but which does not cause serious concern, behaviour which is considered abnormal for a particular person and which causes serious concern.
Evidence is required within two cultural concepts of mental health, one of which is Māori.
Mental health is described in terms of a continuum which ranges from no need for intervention through to that which requires professional assessment and immediate intervention.
Range: continuum - behaviour that does not require intervention, behaviour that leads to a need for advice or support for the person or their family or whānau and/or other carers, behaviour that causes serious concern and requires assessment by a mental health professional.
Mental illness is described in terms of classifications of mental disorder.
Range: classifications of mental disorder - mood disorders, anxiety disorders, conduct/oppositional disorders, personality disorders, substance abuse, dual diagnosis; dual diagnosis - co-existence of a mental disorder and at least one other factor such as alcohol and/or drug misuse, or intellectual disability.
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New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2020

1.5
1.6
1.7
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SOCIAL SERVICE WORK IN SUICIDE
INTERVENTION
Demonstrate knowledge of mental health and mental health services for suicide intervention
Mental illness is described in terms of particular classifications of mental disorder as potential risk factors in suicide.
Range:
Interventions for mental illness are described in terms of types of treatment options.
Range: particular classifications of mental disorder - conduct disorders, depression, schizophrenia, substance abuse. types of treatment options - cultural treatment options; community care; hospitalisation; medication; counselling and psychotherapy.
Evidence is required of four of the range.
Mental illness is described in terms of personal and social issues and consequences.
Range: personal and social issues and consequences - incidence of mental illnesses; personal consequences for people experiencing a mental disorder; effects of mental illnesses on families or whānau and other carers; economic impacts on society; community attitudes to mental illness and experiencing a mental disorder; cultural consequences.
Evidence is required of three of the range.
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New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2020

18150
12-Apr-20
8 of 10
SOCIAL SERVICE WORK IN SUICIDE
INTERVENTION
Demonstrate knowledge of mental health and mental health services for suicide intervention element 2
Analyse the roles and functions of workers from mental health occupational groups in the provision of mental health services for suicide intervention.
Range: workers may include but are not limited to - chaplain, community support worker, counsellor, District Inspector, Duly Authorised Officer, general practiti oner, kaiāwhina, kaumātua, Māori Mental Health Workers, mental health support worker, occupational therapist, pakeke, patient advocate, psychologist, psychiatrist, psychotherapist, registered nurse, social worker, specialist kaupapa Māori mental health workers, tohunga, youth worker. performance criteria
2.1 Analysis identifies the range of mental health workers according to their occupational title and role in the provision of mental health services.
2.2 Analysis identifies the roles and functions of mental health workers in the provision of mental health services for suicide intervention.
Range: roles and functions include but are not limited to - advice, advocacy, emergency action, support, treatment.
2.3 Analysis categorises the roles and functions of mental health workers in terms of prevention, intervention, and post-vention in working with suicide.
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New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2020

18150
12-Apr-20
9 of 10
SOCIAL SERVICE WORK IN SUICIDE
INTERVENTION
Demonstrate knowledge of mental health and mental health services for suicide intervention
2.4 Analysis identifies the boundaries and responsibilities of the social service worker’s role in suicide intervention according to enterprise standards.
Range: evidence is required in relation to the standards of one enterprise that employs social service workers to fulfil a role in suicide intervention. element 3
Analyse the provision of mental health services in the local community related to suicide intervention.
Range: services - counselling, culturally specific services, day programmes, emergency services, legal services, private therapy services, residential care, specialist kaupapa Māori mental health workers. performance criteria
3.1 Analysis identifies and categorises mental health service providers in the local community according to the nature of the services they provide for suicide intervention.
Range: evidence is required in relation to one service provider for each category.
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New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2020

18150
12-Apr-20
10 of 10
SOCIAL SERVICE WORK IN SUICIDE
INTERVENTION
Demonstrate knowledge of mental health and mental health services for suicide intervention
3.2 Analysis identifies the eligibility criteria and referral protocols of mental health service providers in the local community in terms of the services they provide for suicide intervention.
Range: evidence is required of eligibility criteria and referral protocols for each of the service providers identified under performance criterion 3.1.
3.3 Analysis categorises mental health service providers in the local community in terms of the services they provide for prevention, intervention, and post-vention in working with suicide.
3.4 Analysis identifies strengths and weaknesses in the provision of mental health services in the local community for suicide intervention.
Comments to:
Careerforce
PO Box 2637
Wellington 6140
Please Note: Providers must be accredited by the Qualifications Authority before they can offer programmes of education and training assessed against unit standards.
Accredited providers assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that applies to those unit standards. [Please refer to relevant Plan ref: 0222]
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New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2020