Waitress's suicide puts focus on media
Australian study of suicide shows cultural differences
An Australian study has revealed that Indian youths were more likely to follow through on their suicidal thoughts than Australian or Italian youths. To read the article in full go to:
http://english.people.com.cn/9001/90880/6892028.html
Tragedy of humanity's unspoken epidemic
Weighing up the risks of reporting suicide
Cockledivers tackle depression, suicide
Abused children face greater suicide risk
Public urged to look for suicide signs
Suicide attempts:patients lacking support
Suicide prevention services 'concerning'
LIFE live chat with Professor Ian Webster AO
A look at youth suicide
It's a topic that most of us don't want to think about - suicide and it's devastating impact. But each year in Australia around 2000 people - many of them young - take their own lives. The results of a Senate inquiry looking into suicide in Australia will be released in April. Peggy Giakoumelos reports that it received more than 200 submissions from a range of community groups, government agencies, individuals and those working in mental health care. To listen to the podcast go to:
http://www.sbs.com.au/podcasts/Podcasts/world-view/episode/62732/A-look-at-youth-suicide
Older gays hit by the blues
Suicide link to a lack of sleep
Suicide can be stopped: Lifeline's message
LIFE Awards Helping Fight Against Suicide
Suicide the main cause of death for Australians aged 15 to 34
Sounds of Summer: Suicide in the building industry
Experts warn of Christmas suicide risk
World Suicide Prevention Day: 10 Sept 2009
Suicide victims remembered
WA moves to tackle suicide rate
WA moves to tackle suicide rate
Father's suicide prompts son to help others
Study aims to tackle rural depression
Partnership to xTEND rural depression research
A new research partnership will examine ways to minimise the risk factors for male suicide in rural communities.
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Suicide leads death cause for under 35s
R U OK? Day November 29th 2009
R U OK? Day will be held on November 29th, 2009. It is an annual national day of action that aims to get Australians, right across the entire spectrum of society, connecting with friends and loved ones, by reaching out to anyone doing it tough and simply asking: “Are you ok?”
Why start a conversation? Research shows talking about suicide with someone at risk actually reduces the chances of them taking their life. It is the one thing we can all do to make a real difference. R U OK? Day is about prevention, so it is not just about asking those at immediate risk.
Connection is a crucial part of general health and well being to help in coping with issues such as stressful life events, mental health problems, relationship breakdowns and bereavement.
Staying connected and ensuring your colleagues, friends and loved ones do so as well is as simple as having regular, meaningful, conversations. So every day can be R U OK? Day.
This year on November 29th, all of Australia will be encouraged to ask someone they care about: “Are you ok?” And, if they are, the worst that can happen is they will know you care about them…but if they are not, that conversation could change a life.
For more information on R U OK? Day, and some tips on how to have a conversation, visit
www.ruokday.com.au
Senate enquiry into suicide in Australia
The Australian Commonwealth Government has recently announced a Senate Inquiry into Suicide in Australia. Suicide Prevention Australia (SPA) welcomes this unique opportunity to recognise and promote the diverse experiences and views of Australians to help strengthen our community’s responses to suicide and self-harm prevention, intervention and postvention.
As Australia’s leading advocate for suicide and self-harm prevention, SPA intends to make a comprehensive submission to the Senate Inquiry. As part of SPA’s submission, we hope to represent the voices of Australians by including personal stories from people who have been affected by suicide.
Every story is important. We invite you to have your say by sharing your story and allowing us to incorporate it into SPA’s submission. Your story may reflect any number of possible personal experiences with suicide. For example, you may be a suicide attempt survivor, bereaved by suicide, a caregiver of someone who is suicidal or bereaved by suicide, a witness of suicide, you may have dealt with suicide in the workplace, have been impacted by media reporting of suicide, or simply be a concerned community member. Your personal story may also include ideas about how we can create a more connected, inclusive, resilient and safer community.
To gather these stories, we have created a dedicated page on the SPA website where people can upload their individual stories. Please visit www.suicidepreventionaust.org to find out more.
Personal stories can be submitted on the website until Wednesday 28th October 2009.
Suicide Call Back Service goes 24-hour!
The Suicide Call Back Service has changed. It is now available to callers 24/7 for crisis telephone counselling, as well as continuing to offer scheduled counselling sessions. New funding arrangements have been put in place to allow us to take calls 24 hours a day from people at risk of suicide, their carers, and the suicide-bereaved. Calls can be made from anywhere in Australia for the cost of a local call.
Black Dog Ride Supports the Suicide Call Back Service
Steve Andrews, from Busselton WA, will embark on a solo motorbike trip around
Australia on 26th July 2009 to raise community awareness about depression, one
of the most common of all mental health problems.
The devastating impact of depression has been experienced first hand by
Steve Andrews, who has lost both his mother and two close friends to suicide
following depressive illness.
Many people, including Winston Churchill, have referred to depression as
their 'black dog' and as such, Steve Andrews has named this project the Black
Dog Ride. As he travels around the country on Highway 1, he will combine his
passion for riding motorbikes and a long held dream of driving around Australia
with a growing desire to raise awareness about the impact of depression and the
resources available to assist people.
With the support of the Lions Club of Australia, Steve Andrews will also
be raising money for the Suicide Call Back Service run by Crisis Support
Services.
Steve Andrews firmly believes that by working together, we can really
make a difference for people suffering from depression and for those at risk of
suicide. www.blackdogride.com.au
MensLine Australia launches Bushfire EAR service
MensLine Australia has just launched the Bushfire EAR (Emergency Aftermath Rebuild) telephone call-back service for victims of the Victorian bushfires. The service provides professional 24-hour, 7-day support, with the option of up to six calls from the same counsellor over a period of six months.
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Generation Next
This seminar will focus on providing essential and up to date information for parents , teachers and carers about problems relating to bullying, drugs and alcohol, cybersafety, mental health and related issues that affect young people and on constructive solutions to these problems.
The seminar will be presented by some of Australia's leading experts on children and teenagers.
For more information, visit http://www.gennextseminars.com or download the brochure below.
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Suicide Callback Service wins suicide prevention award
At just 13 months young, the Suicide Call Back Service has won the nationally acclaimed Suicide Prevention Australia (SPA) LIFE Award!
The Suicide Call Back Service has taken out the "Healthy Communities" award, singled out from a selection of strong entries based on the professional, highly directed and measurable approach taken by the service in reducing suicide risk.
"This award is a fantastic accolade to the immeasurable teamwork of CSS in developing, refining and operating a service that plays such an important role in reducing suicide risk in the community," said Wendy Sturgess, CEO of Crisis Support Services.
SuicideLine (VIC) Launches Online Resource Centre: A Vital New Tool for Those at Risk of Suicide
On World Suicide Prevention Day, SuicideLine (VIC) - formerly known as The Victorian Suicide Helpline - will launch a vital new online resource centre for people at risk of suicide, concerned family and friends, as well as those bereaved by suicide.
As of today, the service that has been supporting Victorians for more than eight years will be known as SuicideLine (VIC). The name change will make the service easier to locate online and in community directories, cementing the service’s commitment to provide accessible support to those at-risk of suicide (79 per cent of calls), as well as those concerned about a family member or friend (12 per cent of calls).
SuicideLine (VIC) is the only professional service of its kind in Australia, providing free 24/7 counselling and information, receiving more than 28,000 calls a year.
Sadly, due to limited funding and the consistently high demands on the service, more than 45 calls go unanswered each day.
Laura Kennan, General Manager of Clinical Services, Crisis Support Services -operators of SuicideLine (VIC) - explained the chilling impact this can have on Victoria’s most at-risk individuals.
“With so many callers at absolute crisis point, being unable to answer their calls due to a lack of funding is difficult to swallow”, said Ms Keenan.
However, beyond the Victorian border, the lack of support is even greater, with no access to specialist services like SuicideLine (VIC). Sadly the devastating impact of suicide is felt by all Australians, while the need for specialist support services is just as great (if not greater) in other states.
“We urge Australia’s Governments to invest in providing a national, professional support service for people at risk and their families right across the country. Australians need access to a specialist suicide prevention service which has no geographical boundaries, is low cost, easily accessible and able to support those at greatest risk”, explained Ms Kennan.
Thanks to generous community and in-kind support, SuicideLine (VIC) has been able to extend the breadth of its service to all Australians through the launch of its new website – including fact sheets, tip sheets, e-learning tools, as well as links to other resources. To access the site go to: http://www.suicideline.org.au/
SuicideLine (VIC) receives more than 28,000 calls each year, with a staggering 70 per cent of callers experiencing thoughts of suicide or self harm at the time of the call. SuicideLine (VIC) is a professional and anonymous telephone counselling service for those at risk of suicide or self harm, concerned family and friends, and the bereaved. SuicideLine (VIC) is available throughout Victoria, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for the cost of a local call.
Victoria experiences one of the lowest rates of suicide across Australia (behind New South Wales) – ABS 2005
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