A free workshop will give more locals the tools they need to help prevent suicide.
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Rural suicide prevention program the Good SPACE will host the workshop at Community College Northern Inland, 42-44 Campbell Street on Monday, July 30 from 10am.
The four hour program will teach participants how to identify when someone may be struggling or at risk of suicide, how to have a conversation with that person, and where to refer them to for help. The workshop also aims to improve the health and wellbeing of participants, and willingness to help-seek when needed.
To participate, RSVP today, Monday July 23, by emailing Inverell@communitycollegeni.nsw.edu.au or by calling 6721 3656.
Good SPACE is funded by the Hunter New England Central Coast PHN and is managed by the University of Newcastle's CRRMH.
#YouCanTalk about suicide
The workshop follows a #YouCanTalk campaign launched last week by several mental health and suicide prevention organisations, which tell Australians that they can ask direct questions about suicide if they notice someone appears deeply troubled.
“Our message is this: #YouCanTalk about suicide. Half the population think that they can’t. We are on a mission to partner with the community to prevent suicide in this country,” Beyondblue CEO Georgie Harman said.
#YouCanTalk is a direct response to a survey of 3000 people in Australia that found many want to do more to prevent suicide in their communities, but don’t know how.
Half of all respondents believed only mental health professionals can help prevent suicide, while 40 per cent worried talking about suicide made things worse.
“The evidence is in: it is not harmful to ask someone if they are thinking about taking their own life or find out if they have made a plan. In fact, it could help. It’s important that we all know the facts about suicide and our prevention efforts are informed by what the research tells us,” Black Dog Institute Director Prof Helen Christensen said.
“Suicide is not a silent killer. There are signs that we can all look out for, particularly when it comes to young people, who have a range of life stresses that may be masking something deeper,” Headspace CEO Jason Trethowan said.
If you or someone you know needs urgent support, talk to someone you trust or contact a crisis support service, such as Beyondblue on 1300 22 46 36, Lifeline on 13 11 14, or 000 in an emergency.
