Suicide is Everyone’s Business

More than 3,000 Australians die by suicide each year. This is a huge number, more than double the national road toll. For every suicide, there are traumatic impacts on friends, families, colleagues and the broader community.

“The World Suicide Prevention Day theme is ‘Take a Minute, Change a Life’. We know suicide can be prevented, and it is not only professionals that can help. Everyone can play a part in creating a suicide safer community,” said Anglicare NT CEO Dave Pugh.

Anglicare NT offers suicide intervention and awareness training, provides youth mental health services through headspace Darwin, and works to develop a community that knows how to ask for and give help.

headspace Darwin, based at Casuarina, provides early intervention mental health services to 12-25 year olds, along with assistance in promoting young peoples’ wellbeing.

The Top End Suicide Intervention Awareness Training (TESIAT) program provides and coordinates suicide intervention and awareness training across the Top End of the Northern Territory. The program offers both the skills based LivingWorks Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) and a half day Suicide Awareness session – SafeTALK. Training is provided in urban, regional and remote locations.

ASIST and SafeTALK are evidence based programs founded on the principle that everyone can make a difference in preventing suicide. Training people in suicide intervention and raising awareness helps build the capacity of communities to respond to this risk. Training also gives people practical skills and hope that they can make a difference.

Anglicare NT has presented training workshops since 1998 and has trained over 6000 people from a wide range of backgrounds including professionals, volunteers and general community members.

“Anglicare NT has been recognised for the way it has worked with Indigenous communities and presenters to adopt these international approaches to better support Aboriginal communities,” said Mr Pugh.

“Suicide affects all communities, however particular population groups such as Aboriginal communities, people with mental health issues and members of the LGBTIQ community experience greater rates of suicide. Anglicare NT is committed to supporting these communities so that all people can look forward to a quality of life.”