Community Suicide Prevention & Wellbeing Initiative for North-West

Published on 19 March 2019

The Devonport City Council, Central Coast Council and Burnie City Councils have joined with the North West Tasmania Suicide Prevention Trial Site to implement the Community Suicide Prevention & Wellbeing Initiative.

Each Council recognises and supports the efforts of community organisations, clubs, workplaces and community groups in hosting, supporting and participating in suicide prevention and wellbeing initiatives. This is valuable community work which undoubtedly increases knowledge and understanding about mental health issues and suicide in North West Tasmania.

The Community Suicide Prevention & Wellbeing Initiative has been developed to support this work, and assist establish community connections to deliver local actions to improve mental health and wellbeing.

On Friday March 8th, as part of the Community Suicide Prevention & Wellbeing Initiative, the Doing Better Together Grants were launched.

The Doing Better Together Grants encourage, engage and empowers community organisations, clubs, workplaces and community groups to start, or continue, to take steps to implement actions which are important to them to safeguard against the risk of suicide within their own communities and to ensure the ongoing wellbeing of their members.

Burnie Acting Mayor, Giovanna Simpson, hopes that the overarching Initiative and the Doing Better Together Grants continue the progress that is being made around understanding mental health and aid in the efforts of community groups, workplaces and clubs to prevent suicide among friends, work colleagues and sporting mates.

Central Coast Mayor, Jan Bonde, agrees, acknowledging the unique position community groups and workplaces are in to lead mental health and suicide prevention activities. ‘Many workplaces have Health and Wellbeing Committees which we hope will lodge an application for a Doing Better Together Grant.’

Devonport Mayor, Annette Rockliff, reflects upon the evidence which shows that communities who work together can achieve reductions in suicide deaths and suicide attempts. ‘We need to encourage local community groups to develop sustainable activities which are meaningful to their members to help eliminate the silence and stigma which stop people in need of help and support from reaching out.’

All three councils are participating in a National Suicide Prevention Trial which is supported by funding from the Australian Government through Primary Health Tasmania (Tasmania PHN).

If you, or someone you know, needs support call Lifeline on 13 11 14. Lifeline provide a confidential telephone crisis support service available 24/7 from a landline, payphone or mobile.

OR

Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467. This is a nationwide service that provides 24/7 telephone, video and online professional counselling to people who are affected by suicide.

To access an application form click here(PDF, 419KB).