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Different populations experience suicide at different rates. Some studies have found an increased risk of suicide among individuals with tattoos. Studies indicate a higher prevalence of mental health disorders among individuals with one or more tattoos. These findings signal a need to explore suicide prevention in tattoo shops. The aim of this project is to determine the feasibility, acceptability, and interest of providing education on suicide prevention among tattoo artists. We conducted a cross-sectional survey with tattoo artists. Survey items assessed artists' experiences with clients expressing mental health issues or suicidal thoughts, their comfort level assisting clients, and general perceptions around suicide and stigma. Seventy-nine surveys were collected. Most artists reported that they have had at least one situation in which a client mentioned something that made them concerned about that client's mental health. Most respondents reported that a client has expressed suicidal thoughts to them at least once. Our study demonstrated that tattoo artists encounter clients who express mental health challenges as well as suicidal ideation, underscoring the potential role for tattoo artists in supporting individuals at risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Issue Addressed: Physical activity participation can improve the physical health and social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The evaluation of physical activity programmes can elicit a clearer understanding of where these impacts occur and to what extent. We describe applying a collaborative approach to the selection of a set of measures that can be used to examine health and wellbeing impacts of Indigenous community running groups., Methods: Physical activity, health and wellbeing measurement tools previously used with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples were collated. Participants in the collaborative process were nine female running group members aged 30+ years from a regional New South Wales (NSW) town. The Indigenous research method, Yarning, explored views of participating in the group on health and wellbeing and how these could be measured using those collated measurement tools., Results: Runners described participating for holistic physical, mental and social reasons and stated the importance of the group participating together and providing social support to each other. There was broad support for the identified physical activity, lifestyle, physical health, and social and emotional wellbeing measures, with social networks and sports injuries identified as additionally relevant., Conclusions: Co-selecting measures to evaluate a physical activity programme for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants can better inform the development of relevant future healthy lifestyle programme evaluation, revealing factors that may be missed as relevant by researchers. SO WHAT?: This process presents an example of determining evaluation measures with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants that could be applied more broadly to evaluation design., (© 2022 The Authors. Health Promotion Journal of Australia published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Australian Health Promotion Association.)

Issue Addressed: Food literacy programs aim to build individuals' knowledge, skills and self-efficacy to adopt healthy food choices conducive to reducing the risk of chronic diseases, such as obesity. Foodbank WA's (FBWA) Healthy Food for All ® nutrition programs have supported the improvement of food literacy knowledge and skills among vulnerable people living in the Pilbara., Methods: A Sustainability Framework containing ten sustainability factors was overlaid with social ecological model (SEM) levels of influence to form a matrix. The use of this matrix facilitated sustainability strategy appraisal within three food literacy programs delivered in remote WA., Results: Programs included multiple sustainability strategies across levels of influence; all programs addressed all ten sustainability factors at community and organisational SEM levels of influence. Few sustainability strategies were employed at the public policy level of influence. No program employed formal governance structures to guide program direction, such as steering groups; however, school and parent program staff developed Memoranda of Understanding to ensure the continuation of program delivery between the FBWA teams' regional visits., Conclusions: This study has showcased the comprehensive assessment of food literacy program sustainability across levels of influence and identified gaps for improvement by FBWA teams. SO WHAT?: The sustainability of food literacy programs aiming to increase knowledge and skills could be enhanced by conducting a similar analysis, during program planning or at program review. Using the matrix provides the opportunity to focus resources to address sustainability; supporting health promotion practitioners to transform the impacts of short-term food literacy interventions into long-term sustained outcomes., (© 2022 Foodbank of Western Australia Inc. Health Promotion Journal of Australia published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Australian Health Promotion Association.)

Issue Addressed: Running since 1999, the Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon (SWKT) is the world's largest triathlon series for children and adolescents up to 16 years. This report seeks to describe participants of the TRYathlon and their perceptions of the event., Methods: An online survey was made available to Australian parents/guardians of participants enrolled in the 2020 SWKT. Organisational data was also employed to describe the reach of the SWKT since its inception., Results: Parents/guardians (n = 568) reported that the average child age was 9.12 (SD = 1.95, range = 6-16) and 58.6% were male. Parents/guardians identified 12 children as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander (2.0%) and 87 (14.6%) spoke a language other than English. The majority of parents/guardians rated their child's physical activity (PA) competencies as pretty good, or really good, for cycling (87.5%), swimming (80.9%) and running (79.5%). Most parents (66.0%) stated that their child was glowing with pride after completing the event, enjoyed or really enjoyed the event (98.8%), and thought their child would maintain their PA levels following the event (72.9%)., Conclusions: The SWKT series has demonstrated longevity and an ability to reach a large number of participants, providing opportunities to build health promotion awareness. Importantly the event instils a sense of confidence and pride related to PA competency in its participants; however, its long-term effectiveness requires further exploration. SO WHAT?: Mass participation events such as SWKT could be incorporated into larger health promotion strategies to encourage childhood PA and foster healthy physical and psychosocial development., (© 2021 Australian Health Promotion Association.)

Issues Addressed: Discussion of family violence is important but many men and boys struggle to engage with the topic. Primary prevention approaches focus on communicating with and educating the population, including men and boys, in the areas of healthy relationships, gender and violence. There can be both barriers to and also gains from these interventions. This paper describes a project implemented in Geraldton, Western Australia, and discusses what has been effective and ineffective during the project., Methods: The 'Men Against Violence' project targeted men and boys through local sporting clubs in the City of Greater Geraldton, in the Midwest region of Western Australia, through the use of face to face education, community radio and television interviews and other appropriate engagement strategies. 'Men Against Violence' events were held to connect with local male community members and address the role men can have in family violence prevention., Results: We describe the three key engagement activities, working with the local Australian Rules football league, state-league basketball team and a local high school Aboriginal football academy. These strategies provided avenues for contact with and the education of men and boys aged 12 years and older., Conclusion: Through successful partnerships with a number of local organisations, the 'Men Against Violence' project saw a high level of engagement with local men. The project also gained strong community support, with pockets of resistance encountered and managed., So What: The 'Men Against Violence' project experienced highlights and barriers throughout the pilot project that can guide and inform future family violence prevention programs., (© 2020 Australian Health Promotion Association.)

Issue Addressed: Healthy Together Victoria (HTV) was a large-scale intervention that adopted a systems approach to prevention. It established the capability of an inexperienced workforce by cultivating their understanding of systems theories, tools and practice. This paper explores how this capacity was developed and what helped and hindered the process., Methods: This qualitative research included 31 primary semi-structured interviews that focused on participants' understanding of systems thinking. Deductive thematic analysis was undertaken. A workforce development framework informed the coding that was used to create a causal loop diagram., Results: The findings display the multiple influencers on capacity-building. Practice change was enabled with training-although it lacked coordination and participation was limited. Yet, the systems approach was strengthened with governance arrangements, policies, funding, team support and leadership that empowered practitioners to trial systems methods. Capacity-building was hindered by HTV's unspecified theory that made it harder for novice practitioners to grasp. Funding cuts due to political changes reduced the initiative's duration and prompted resignations, causing the newfound experience to exit the workforce., Conclusion: Capacity-building for systems practice requires a holistic approach of simultaneous, complimentary actions that address the individual and environmental influences of workforce development, especially the drivers of organisational culture that facilitate new practice. SO WHAT?: Effective training methods should specifically teach skills and knowledge that help practitioners to implement systems thinking. The workforce development requirements of other contributors also need to be considered, in addition to the policies, opportunities and resources that embed practice change., (© 2020 Australian Health Promotion Association.)

Issue Addressed: Physical inactivity is a leading risk factor for disease burden and premature mortality. Interventions to increase physical activity are common, though few examples of multi-strategy, wide-scale community programs exist. Active Launceston is a community-wide program aimed at improving health and well-being through physical activity. We report on the process evaluation of Active Launceston and changes in community physical activity participation between 2008 and 2015, as a measure of program effectiveness., Methods: Mixed-method evaluation of Active Launceston combined process evaluation-consisting of participant numbers, socio-demographic characteristics, campaign awareness, focus groups and stakeholder interviews-with impact evaluation consisting of a random-sample cross-sectional serial telephone survey., Results: Active Launceston attracted 11 887 attendees, participating in 30 342 sessions, amounting to 38 088 hours of physical activity between 2008 and 2015. Participant focus groups highlighted benefits including increased engagement in exercise, better health and social connectedness. While telephone surveys found the proportion of people participating in any physical activity in the last 12 months to be similar between the 3 years (2008, 77.7%; 2012, 77.1%; 2015, 73.6%), a higher proportion participated in vigorous physical activity in 2012 and 2015 compared to 2008 (P < 0.01), when adjusting for age and gender differences. A higher proportion also achieved sufficient activity for health in 2015 compared to 2008 (P = 0.01)., Conclusions: Mixed-method evaluation suggests Active Launceston is an effective community-wide program supporting community members to engage in regular physical activity and increase levels of social engagement. SO WHAT?: This work provides a model for implementing high-reach, community-wide interventions that improve physical activity outcomes., (© 2019 Australian Health Promotion Association.)

Issue Addressed: Young parents (<25 years) have lower engagement with health and community services and are more likely to experience negative outcomes in the perinatal period compared to older parents. The aim of this study was to evaluate the short to medium-term outcomes of the Young Parents Program (YPP), specifically designed to engage and support young parents, using responsive and codesign strategies in a community setting., Methods: A qualitative case study used data from interviews with participating parents (n = 20) and a focus group with YPP facilitators (n = 5)., Results: The findings report on the following short to medium-term YPP outcomes for parents and children. Young parents: are engaged in early parenting services that are welcoming, nonjudgemental and holistic; build parenting skills, knowledge, confidence and are tuned into their infants' needs; are empowered to codesign program activities to meet their parenting and nonparenting needs; have developed friendships and a social support network in their local community; and, are linked into community services and resources. Their children are cared for and stimulated with age-appropriate interactions and play., Conclusion: Flexible, responsive and codesigned programs for young parents are effective means of connecting parents to services, social support networks and can provide learning opportunities, which enhance both child and parent attachment and development. SO WHAT?: Qualitative evaluation provides an understanding of contextual factors - required to inform effective design and delivery of young parent community programs., (© 2018 Australian Health Promotion Association.)

Issue Addressed: The SunSmart Policy Support and Intervention Study (SSPSIS) (ACTRN12614000926639) investigated the feasibility of improving schools' implementation of the SunSmart Program, which is a resource for primary school communities to support their development of a comprehensive sun protection policy., Methods: A cluster randomised controlled trial (RCT) was used to evaluate the SSPSIS, which was conducted in NSW SunSmart schools (n = 20). Objective measurements of students' sun-safe hat-wearing behaviours and sunscreen application, and teachers' role-modelling behaviours, were collected for baseline, post-test and follow-up data. Interviews with school community stakeholders, including students (n = 103), parents (n = 31), teachers (n = 11) and executive staff (n = 4), were conducted to inform the intervention design, which was implemented following baseline data collection., Results: The results of baseline observations and interviews have been published previously. The intervention design aimed to combat negative perceptions of hat-wearing policy and create a trigger for sunscreen application by rewarding students practising these sun protection behaviours with play-based incentives. Although this intervention had no significant effect on the wearing of sun-safe hats among students or teachers, it did have a large effect on the consumption of sunscreen., Conclusions: Associating sunscreen and play-based incentives can create an effective trigger for students' sunscreen application behaviours. However, further evidence is needed to investigate how students' and teacher role models' hat-wearing behaviours could be increased. SO WHAT?: While combining a play-based incentive with a trigger for behaviour can promptly increase students' sunscreen application, it was unable to increase students' or teacher role models' hat-wearing behaviours., (© 2017 Australian Health Promotion Association.)

Issues Addressed: Back on Track (BoT) was developed as pilot to provide an integrated service response to twenty at-risk young people residing in a metro Melbourne housing estate. For this cohort, traditional welfare sector interventions were proving ineffective, with the siloed nature of the sector identified as a key barrier to effective engagement., Methods: Developed as an offshoot of an established CI project, the Education Engagement Partnership (EEP), BoT used Collective Impact (CI) methodology to inform project development. CI was considered a means to implement systematic change whilst increasing positive health, education and justice outcomes for the target cohort., Results: BoT was abandoned after start-up due to a lack of CI model buy-in on the part of one stakeholder., Conclusions: BoT's initial success can be directly attributed to stakeholder experience of the EEP. The project's break down illuminates challenges that can emerge when the welfare sector attempts interagency collaborative practices. BoT highlights the centrality of relationship-building for successful CI implementation and flags potential issues in collaborations between small place-based initiatives and large statewide agencies constrained by non-negotiable internal policies. SO WHAT?: CI methodology is increasing popular in health promotion work, and there is a need to examine how the methodology translates into local level practice., (© 2018 Australian Health Promotion Association.)

Issue Addressed: Improving the health of men is a national policy priority. The Men's Shed program is one health promoting initiative that seeks to improve the health and wellbeing of men. This study assessed Men's Shed members' perceptions of the health and wellbeing benefits of Men's Shed activity in a large regional Queensland Men's Shed., Methods: Data were collected via a self-administered questionnaire from 147 and three group interviews with 17 shedders. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to determine differences in shedders perceived health and wellbeing measures retrospectively just before joining the Men's Shed and currently. Thematic analysis was used to analyse qualitative data., Results: There was no change in overall self-assessed health of shedders before and after joining the Men's Shed. Shedders expanded their social networks, and experienced less felt need for social interaction. Shedders' level of satisfaction with feeling part of the community and life as a whole increased. Health and wellbeing benefits of Men's Shed included fellowship, sense of belonging, access to equipment, and learning new and sharing their own skills., Conclusions: The Men's Shed appeared to provide social health and wellbeing benefits to its members, and an environment for quality social interaction. The Men's Shed is seen as a place for and about members - men. SO WHAT?: Men's Shed may have a unique role in supporting the social health and wellbeing of men beyond that already available from other community groups by providing an environment for the fellowship of men and activities of interest in an unstructured way., (© 2017 Australian Health Promotion Association.)

Issue Addressed: Fall injuries among people aged 65 years and over (older people) cause substantial health decline and cost to the health system. In 2009 in New South Wales, 25.6% of older people fell in the previous year, and 10.7% (32 000) were hospitalised. Pharmacists are trusted professionals, who interact extensively with older people and have potential to augment fall prevention in pharmacies. This brief report describes how professional development improved pharmacist's knowledge and confidence in fall prevention, encouraged implementation of fall prevention plans and facilitated the provision of brief fall prevention interventions for older clients, after identification of fall risk., Methods: In 2014, pharmacists from all Central Coast pharmacies (n = 76) were invited to free, continuing professional development (CPD) in fall prevention. It provided education and resources to identify clients' fall risk, conduct brief fall prevention interventions and implement fall prevention health promotion plans (FPHPP). Pharmacists completed written: Baseline and postworkshop questionnaires to assess changes in pharmacist's knowledge and confidence, and existing fall prevention in pharmacies. Logs of client fall risk and brief fall prevention interventions offered to clients. Four-month follow-up questionnaires to assess implementation of FPHPPs and pharmacy practice changes., Results: Pharmacists representing 36% of pharmacies participated. At four-month follow-up, 67% had implemented FPHPPs, and 62% delivered brief interventions determined by client fall risk., Conclusion: Fall prevention in pharmacies can be augmented through locally provided CPD tailored for pharmacists. SO WHAT?: This model could increase fall prevention reach. It is transferable to settings where health professionals provide services to older adults and require reregistration through professional development., (© 2018 Australian Health Promotion Association.)

Issue Addressed: Injuries lead to more hospitalisations and lost years of healthy life for Aboriginal people than any other cause. However, they are often overlooked in discussion of relieving Aboriginal disadvantage., Methods: Four Aboriginal communities with diverse geography, culture and service arrangements participated in the Interplay Wellbeing project. In each community, Aboriginal researchers conducted focus groups and interviews arranged through Aboriginal organisations to explore wellbeing. A total of 84 participants contributed to 14 focus groups and eight interviews, which were recorded, transcribed and coded. This article reports on injury and possibilities for prevention, unanticipated themes raised in discussions of wellbeing., Results: Interpersonal violence, injury and imprisonment emerged as themes that were linked with employment and wellbeing. Employment in Aboriginal ranger programs provides meaningful activity, which strengthens people's identity and cultural integrity. This can avert interpersonal violence through empowering women and reducing alcohol access and consumption., Conclusion: Ranger programs may provide a much-needed opportunity to control escalating rates of injury for Aboriginal people in remote communities. SO WHAT?: The manifold benefits of Aboriginal ranger programs include reducing violence and its injury and criminal justice consequences., (© 2017 Australian Health Promotion Association.)