Community and sports groups, healthcare workers, emergency responders and education providers across Whittlesea are on a mission to reduce the municipality’s suicide rate.
The groups met in South Morang last week as part of the state government’s Whittlesea suicide prevention trial.
They are hoping to develop suicide prevention initiatives, with survivors and people who have lost loved ones to suicide urged to have their say on how support services can be improved.
The trial, launched by Yan Yean MP Danielle Green and Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network (EMPHN) last week, is one of 12 place-based suicide prevention trials across the state.
EMPHN chief executive Robin Whyte said Whittlesea was chosen to participate in the trials because it has one of the highest suicide rates in Victoria.
The primary health network said there was a number of factors driving up Whittlesea’s suicide rate, including the high number of people experiencing psychological distress, the rate of disadvantage in the community and the municipality’s large Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population – which is the fourth largest in the metropolitan area.
The government hopes the trials will reduce the stigma around suicide and give people
and their families the support they need, with an aim to halving Victoria’s suicide rate by 2025.
Ms Green said the loss from suicide was a tragedy and had a lasting impact on individuals, families and communities.
A second workshop will be held on Wednesday for community groups, carers and people with lived experience of suicide to have their say.
A third workshop, specifically for people who have experienced suicidal thoughts or survived a suicide attempt, as well as carers, friends and families who have lost loved ones, will be held on Tuesday, November 28.
Both workshops will be at the Plenty Ranges Arts and Convention Centre, 35 Ferres Boulevard, South Morang, from 6-8.30pm.
To register, visit www.emphn.org.au/suicide_prevention_workshops
