Free suicide alertness training for community members

19 Sep 2022

Each year in Australia, around 65,000 people attempt to take their own life. It’s a number that programs like the South West suicide prevention coordinator service is trying to do something about by coordinating valuable suicide prevention training in areas of need. 

This Mental Health Week, the service is offering two free community safeTALK suicide alertness training workshops suitable for anyone aged 15 and older. The workshops will be held on Tuesday, 11 October, from 9.30am to 1.00pm at the City of Bunbury Public Library, and on Thursday 13 October from 10.00am to1.30pm at Shire of Augusta Margaret River, 41 Wallcliffe Road, Margaret River.

The workshop will help people understand how to identify someone among their peers who might be struggling and how help them find the right support. 

Funded by the WA Mental Health Commission and operated by St John of God Social Outreach the suicide prevention coordinator service organises mental health, wellbeing and suicide prevention training for health professionals and community members across the South West.

In the past 18 months they have delivered or coordinated 19 suicide prevention training sessions to more than 350 participants, including sessions dedicated to increasing awareness and skills to support people bereaved by suicide.

Suicide Prevention Coordinators Nicky Smith and Jacquie Tarrant say that many people don’t realise the impact they can have, just by knowing what to look out for.

“We are interested in creating communities that are more ‘suicide safe’. If more people can speak openly and directly about suicide, and know the basic helping steps to support someone who is thinking of this, the safer our communities will be,” says Nicky.

Jacquie says suicide alertness training like safeTALK is designed to give people a better understanding of suicide and its contributing factors, providing participants with practical skills that they can use in their communities, workplaces, sporting clubs and families.

“Suicide prevention training aims to give people the skills to recognise when someone might be having thoughts of suicide, how to compassionately engage with that person and connect them with appropriate support so that they can get the help they need,” says Jacquie.

Make a workshop booking or find out about suicide prevention training happening throughout the year.