ABOUT 40 community members united in Gawler on Sunday to raise awareness for suicide prevention and to pause in memory of those who ended their own
life.
The Gawler Suicide Prevention Group held its AGM at the Salvation Army Riverside Centre last week to coincide with World Suicide Prevention Day and R U OK? Day.
Former premier’s advocate for suicide prevention John Dawkins opened the event before leading a moment of silence.
“I am proud to have a role today because the Gawler Suicide Prevention Group was one of the early networks that I was involved in establishing and it has done some really good things over a number of years in the Gawler community and beyond,” he said.
He acknowledged people with lived experience of suicide and the lives lost to suicide.
During the AGM a new executive was elected, with Lee-Anne Bennett taking the reins of chair from Cody Davies.
Deputy chair Robyn Stecker was also awarded the first ‘Life Award’ of the group for her dedicated service.
Karen McColl was elected secretary, assisted by Grant Buik, and Pat McAllister will return as treasurer, along with a number of general committee members.
Upon arrival, Ms McColl gave out ‘walking through a mindfield’ cards and ‘staying safe’ packs to event attendees.
“The idea of the walking through the mindfield brochure is a section in the middle that talks about safe use of language for when you are talking to people with ill mental health or have lived experience of suicide, as language can be quite triggering,” she said.
“In the staying safe packs inside are two tea bags and two cards and the idea is how you can start a conversation with someone over a cup of tea and be each other’s ‘catch person’.
“The power of this is in the exchange.”
Rather than being a counselling service, Ms McColl said the group could navigate people who may be struggling by providing them with options and suggested resources.
“The role of the networks are raising awareness, reducing stigma – especially around that education in non-stigmatising language – and training in signs and how to have conversations to make a difference,” she said.
Following a break for afternoon tea ex-Special Forces soldier Nathan Bolton guest spoke about his battle with mental health following two deployments to Afghanistan.
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Mental Health Emergency on 13 14 65.

‘All my scars are internal’

EX-Special Forces soldier Nathan Bolton shared his battle with PTSD and depression on Sunday at the Gawler Suicide Prevention Group AGM event.
The returned Adelaide soldier was deployed twice to Afghanistan and shared vivid memories from the battlefield, including his role in finding hidden IED explosives.
Mr Bolton revealed he had contemplated his own death on more than one occasion and described being “devoured by darkness” after burying his emotions.
Nearly triggering an underground IED and “almost costing the lives of five mates” added to Mr Bolton’s ill mental health, particularly upon his return home.
He said: “I came home and something was different.
“I found myself battling a new war.
“I was ashamed of my inability to cope.”
Confronting GoPro war footage added to Mr Bolton’s presentation and exposed the horrific conditions he and his fellow soldiers fought in.
He concluded his speech by quoting boxing cult classic Rocky Balboa.
“It ain’t about how hard you hit,” he said.
“It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.”