Vital suicide prevention help on way

Survivors of Suicide founder Kristy Steenhuis says any help cannot come soon enough. She estimates at least 100 Ballarat residents took their own lives in 2016 and the current support services are unable to cope to with the number people needing support. 

If the number of lives claimed by suicide were caused by any other illness it would be a national emergency, Ms Steenhuis said. Leanne Bradley, whose son Alex Reichman took his own life in 2016, hopes the funding will address the lack of support.

Western Victoria Primary Health Network (PHN) will facilitate the state government funded suicide prevention program and a local co-ordinator will meet with local groups to implement the program in Ballarat in coming months. 

Mental Health Minister Martin Foley said local support groups would soon reap the benefits of a record $27 million investment into suicide prevention.

PHN deputy chief executive Kate Barlow said gaps in the city’s current mental health services will be identified and ways to fill the gaps and meet the demand in Ballarat would be discussed with local groups.

“Suicide is a serious issue that impacts families, friends, workplaces and whole communities. This initiative will work at a local level to collectively reduce the suicide rate,” she said.

“The activity plan will build on existing work with a focus on capacity building and enhancing system effectiveness.”

Ballarat Suicide Prevention Network Chair and Councillor Des Hudson said the group had yet to see all of the detail of the state government’s plan. 

“We are also working on our (own) strategic plan – in terms of wanting to promote the awareness of suicide as a community issue and the need to advocate for further services,” Cr Hudson said.

“(We want) for those people that are in a dark place, at whatever time of the day or night or week to be able to can access some crisis support service that can keep them safe.” 

Ms Bradley said there needed to be 24 hour access to support services. 

“The first step is getting someone to realise they can speak to someone. They’ve got to realise it, realise it really is OK not to be OK,” Ms Bradley said.

“It doesn’t matter who it is – find someone to talk to.”