Young unites with the Conversation Convoy on World Suicide Prevention Day

The Anderson Park blossom had a hue of yellow today as locals gathered for World Suicide Prevention Day and the Young Conversation Convoy stop.

Rotary Club of Young cooked a free breakfast to greet residents and business representatives from far and wide including café owners, new mums, and community health workers.

Mayor Brian Ingram shared the alarming statistics on suicide and suicide attempts in Australia; acknowledging that he is one of the 89% of people that have been touched by it. “Even if we just save one life, what an achievement that would be. Start the conversation, learn how to respond and where to go for support”, he encouraged.

State member Steph Cooke MP referred to the World Suicide Prevention Day theme of working together. “When we work together as a community, as schools, workplaces, friends and families – that’s when we get the best outcomes” she said. “Any day we can prevent someone going to that final step is a good day and it can start with asking R U OK?”

Jenna Roberts represented the LifeSpan Murrumbidgee initiative , a trial program for suicide prevention led by the Black Dog Institute. “It’s a system-based approach. One of the pillars is you and what you can do. QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) is free one-hour training course to increase your confidence to talk about suicide” she said.

Jenna also referred to the safety net communities can be for those who are struggling with life and shared how she makes asking R U OK? a part of her everyday life, “Having really open conversations with my family and encouraging my family to access local services and the help that’s around.”

R U OK? Ambassador and musician James Van Cooper provided the morning’s entertainment and shared why he got involved in the cause, “I’ve been the voice of this – the angry, the sad, the up till 3am face. And I wanted to do something about it for myself and others.”

Special thanks to the support services who were on hand with a friendly smile and free information on how to access help for those that need it, including Well Ways, My Health Record and RAMHP (Rural Adversity Mental Health Program).

The Conversation Convoy continues its journey with next stop: Griffith (NSW).