Tuesday 31st August 2004: Hervey Bay

The Subject of silence gets a voice in Australia on September 10, 2004

Australian theme this year: 'Don't leave it too late to talk to mate'

Australians are today being encouraged to speak out about a silentsubject in the first 'Talk to a Mate Day'. The catchy theme is to be launched in Sydney on September 10, as part of World Suicide Prevention Day in Australia (WSPD). The global launch of WSPD in Stockholm last year marked a significant change of attitude in speaking about a subject that has taken too many lives and is a topic of conversation that continues to be shunned.

'Don't leave it too late, talk to a mate...'

Suicide takes the lives of approximately 2,500 Australians per year. . That’s more than motor vehicle accidents. It is something that is not publicly discussed, and people also worry about discussing it. It is particularly a problem among young men and men in midlife (men aged 25-44 years contribute 50% of suicides), but also in older men. Suicidal ideas are also common in the community, especially in young people (up to 25% in some studies), and up to 5% of young men report having made a suicide attempt in the last year. While female suicide rates have stayed fairly constant overall, females attempt suicide more often than males. Researchers have noted that some possible factors, which are harder to test, have affected successive cohorts of young people: increasing rates of parental separation and repartnering, increasing psychological ill-health among youth, the decline of organised religious observance, and a consumerist culture that fails to generate hope or show that they unconditionally care.

Psychologist, Elizabeth Benson-Stott of Aggregate Corporation says "there needs to be better recognition and treatment for groups of individuals at high risk". Suicide prevention involves not just clinical interventions, but work with whole communities, promoting well-being, resilience and community capacity, for example through parenting, schools, media, and anti-stigma programs.

Suicidal thinking isolates people. The immediate goal of suicide prevention is to reduce the isolation and secrecy surrounding suicidal behaviour with a system of safety which involves family, caregivers, and other responsible adults. So it is really important to break the silence and talk. Use the phone to ring friends, family or counselling services. Don’t use alcohol or ‘recreational’ drugs, because these often feed negative thoughts. Remove anything that could make it really easy to suicide.

Official Launch of WSPD September 10
The official Australian Launch of WSPD (World Suicide Prevention Day) will take place at 11.30am at the Crows Nest Medical Centre in Sydney. Chairman of Suicide Prevention Australia (SPA) Dr Michael Dudley will be on hand to comment on the important role GP’s can play in helping people deal with short or long term issues. SPECIAL GUEST ARTIST: Nathan Kaye will also sing ‘Silence’ – from his latest CD which can be heard on www.nathankaye.com. 29yo Nathan from Byron Bay, is donating the song to the cause, after he, like so many, lost a mate to this tragic cause.

11th National Conference for Suicide Prevention and Launch of a new Suicide Prevention Website
The subject of suicide will come under sharper focus at the 11th SPA National Conference in Sydney next month - Oct 29-30. ‘Closing the Gap’ details are available at SPA website and we ask the media to promote and attend the Conference. There is a special ‘media rate’ should journalists wish to attend the full program, or join us at the National Press Conference, Saturday, October 30, 10am at the Clancy Auditorium UNSW, Kensington, SYDNEY.

- A practical tool for all Australians - The national umbrella organisation for Suicide Prevention in Australia, will announce the launch of a major new website to assist in better understanding suicide prevention. SPA spokesperson, Dr Michael Dudley, said that the Internet has increasingly become a “useful tool for people in Australia who may want to understand the taboo subject further.” The website address is: www.suicidepreventionaustralia.org.au.

Suicide Prevention Australia Qld Board Member: Elizabeth Benson-Stott (Senior Psychologist), Aggregate Corporation Pty Ltd, Hervey Bay 0741244521

Public Affairs World Suicide Prevention Day: Brad Farmer 0413 031870 or 0412 164 575

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For more information on this topic contact:

Elizabeth Benson-Stott
QLD Board Member for Suicide Prevention Australia
Psychologist
Aggregate Corporation Pty Ltd
07 4124 4521

Brad Farmer
Public Affairs Officer
World Suicide Prevention Day
0413 031 870 or 0412 164 575

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