SA farmer David Head (left), SA mentalhealth commissioner Chris Burns, BronwenEdwards, Dr John Brayley, Matthew Tukaki,John Dawkins MLC, state health ministerStephen Wade, member for King PaulaLuethen, Gawler Salvation Army majorDarren Cox, Clare Sullivan, Chez Curnowand Bella Burns at last week’s forum inGawler. PHOTO: Grady Hudd
THE Suicide Prevention Network of Networks forum held in Gawler last Wednesday was one of the many initiatives helping tackle the issue of suicide in South Australian communities.
That is according to the premier’s advocate for suicide prevention, John Dawkins, who said last week’s event at the Gawler Salvation Army’s Riverside centre brought together government and industry leaders to shine a light on the important topic.
Mr Dawkins said the feedback received by the 100-plus people who attended the forum was overwhelmingly positive, and reflected the gradual shift within communities towards removing the
stigma associated with suicide.
“We had a number of members of the Premier’s Council on Suicide Prevention there (at the forum), we had members of the Issues Group of Senior Public Servants there, and the ability for that interaction is always good,” he said.
“We’ve seen some really terrific strides within the public sector in the past 12 months.
“Compared to what some of the attitudes were like when I started on this about 15 years ago, the willingness of mainstream community groups to be involved and play a strong role (in addressing
suicide) – particularly when some organisations (in the past) were wary of getting anywhere near it – that’s changed.
“It’s part of our role to harness that; I’m talking to people all the time, including the philanthropic sector, to see where we can steer some of that effort as well.”
Representatives from regional suicide prevention networks from right across the state – including as far as Streaky Bay and Mount Gambier – also attended the forum, along with various dignitaries such as state health minister Stephen Wade and South Australia’s chief psychiatrist, Dr John Brayley.
Gawler Salvation Army major Darren Cox said it was “fantastic” for his organisation to be given the opportunity to host, and cater for, last week’s event and help create awareness about suicide prevention.
“The wide range of factors behind suicide is obviously something the Salvation Army keys into, pretty much on an everyday level – whether it’s poverty, mental health, stress, anxiety, a whole range of things,” he said.
“But whatever it is that leads people to that hopeless feeling is something the Salvation Army wants to stand in the way of, and find a resolution.
“It’s right where our heart is, and we just want to get as many people out there understanding what it means to be alongside someone who is walking that path.”
