As Ballarat comes to terms with an unusually high suicide rate, it also signals an ever-extending ripple effect, which organisations are trying to counter.
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After two rail fatalities on Ballarat’s line within one week in August, thoughts moved to the impact it would have on unintended victims – transport workers, emergency services, witnesses.
Rail, Tram and Bus Union Victorian secretary Luba Grigorovitch said such rail fatalities happen “far too often”, with post traumatic stress disorder crippling drivers, inspectors who attend the scene, cleaners and human resource workers.
“One fatality is obviously awful for the person that has suicided, but it affects so many more lives,” she said. “From what I’m told, it’s the scariest thing that any driver can think of.
“There’s a lot of after-effects that come with it … their sleep is absolutely affected afterwards, because they keep seeing it happening and reliving it.”
She said in 2015, the union secured up to ten days of trauma leave for all transport workers, separate from annual leave and sick leave.
“I have to give credit where credit is due, V/Line and Metro came up to the plate when we said to them, ‘hey, it’s not just the driver that this affects’.”
Closer to home, Ballarat residents have been willing to share their grief in displays of solidarity and strength.
Walking Off The War Within is an annual event founded in memory of Ballarat firefighter Nathan Shanahan, who lost his battle to PTSD in 2016. The walk presents a powerful motto – walk as one to share the burden.
The Stomp out the Stigma Cup, played the honour of footy fanatic Matt Steenhuis who died by suicide 13 years ago, is an initiative sparked by his wife and Survivors of Suicide founder Kristy Steenhuis.
As the chairperson of the Ballarat and District Suicide Prevention Network, Leading Senior Constable Des Hudson said it was important to be frank about suicide as the city tries to understand why it’s so prevalent here.
“There are more completed suicides in every state than the road toll,” he said. “And the facts are we have a higher rate than other areas.”
“We need to discuss the topics and begin to talk about suicide and ideology, and try and take away the stigma.”
Terrifyingly, the suicide rate in Ballarat – which is considered the highest of any city in Victoria – could be worse than recorded.
Leading Senior Constable Hudson previously told The Courier that suicide rates were always complex to definitively gauge due to lags in coronial findings, and the fact is that for some deaths, it would always be unclear.
The network’s annual Beat ‘N’ The Blues fundraiser will return on August 25.
Lifeline: 13 11 14 or lifeline.org.au
Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636 or beyondblue.org.au
headspace Ballarat for youth: 5304 4777 or eheadspace.org.au
Kids Help Line: 1800551800
Suicide Callback Service: 1300 659 467