Mental health professionals say a common response amongst those closest to suicide victims is grief and guilt, often wondering what they could have done differently.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
“In Ballarat recently, there’s been six suicides in six weeks. One is too many, but six is catastrophic,” Chairman of the St Patrick’s College Chris Yeung Fund and MENtal Brekky coordinator, Simon Dwyer said.
Speaking about the loss of his friend Mark Allan, he says “Could I have done something differently? What else could I have done? You live with guilt.”
“I’d spoken to Headspace and my own GP for advice about what to do and they told me the conversation I had to have, as confronting as it was, was to ask him straight out.”
“That was the hardest thing I’d ever done in my life, to sit next to a guy in a bad place and ask, ‘What are you going to do? “Do you have a plan?”
A Ballarat abuse survivor who has attempted suicide recounts a time when someone stopped to help and had a profound effect.
“I had tied my dog up, walked over and sat down, and it was absolutely not planned at all. I had tears streaming down.
“It got dark really fast, and I absolutely could not work out the timetable. Then a man appeared. He stood at that bridge and he did not leave. He spoke to me, I don't know what he said but it was enough to become aware my dog was tied up and to ask myself what the hell was I about to do?”
She said it is still a daily struggle but having someone stop and care made a huge difference. She offers some advice she has found useful.
“Link in to a good doctor. This is your starting base and if the GP is not understanding, find another. They can then refer to a psychologist, psychiatrist, and/or counsellor.”.
“Look out for signs of unusual behavior, stay connected, ask questions and listen to what is being said.”
“If the person is in crisis, stay with them and seek assistance and even take them to the hospital if you feel they are not okay.”
“Don’t just give them the numbers. Check they have called and see how they went. Ask if they need to see a GP, or to be taken to hospital, call a psych unit and offer to go with them.
“Afterwards, take food and call regularly. A crisis is not over in 24 hours.”
If starting to decline, she says, “Stay connected to others and keep your schedule manageable. Accept help, get off social media, read only positive stuff, exercise, and learn yoga and mindfulness.”
Contacts:
- Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636
- Chat online: 3pm - 12am
- Carers Australia: 1800 242636
- Headspace: 1800 650 890
- Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800
- Lifeline: 131114
- Mensline Australia: 1300 78 99 78
- Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659467
- Suicide phone and online counselling: 24 hrs / 7 days
- Lifeline –
- Sexual Assault Crisis Line: 1800 806 292