For Bereavement & Basic Support Skills following a suicide death - Standby ( SSPAN)

 

StandBy Me Support After Suicide And My Thoughts On Prevention of Suicide

Today, I spoke to Katie Darby from StandBy Support After Suicide. I can wholeheartedly recommend this service to anyone affected by a loss/death of a loved one through suicide. 

It is imperative that the person or persons affected by a loss receive the proper bereavement counseling. Some people say counseling doesn't help them - that's up to them how they take it! For me, it should be a prerequisite in workplaces and homes that bereavement counseling supports the recovery of the loss of a loved one through suicide, which is a horrific circumstance to go through. I found counseling the groundwork to get my life back together, to where it is today.

It depends on the type of counselor you speak to, how clear you listen to them, and use their feedback to make you a stronger person to deal with life itself. One thing and stigma I hate that has been told to me after someone suicides, is that the next person that takes their life could be related as a friend or family to that loss of important loss. This means we have to be mindful of who we all meet, live, and speak to. 

Sometimes, we want to get our point across but as we do it, it could mentally damage the other person's mind, without us knowing. Even negative actions speak louder than louder words.

In our world, where businesses are striving for profits and greater profits, seeking their employees to maintain Key Performance Indicators to be their bare minimum standard, pressure and anxiety may set in one's life. Maybe they cannot meet their business goals and or standards. Maybe they have a turnaround in lifestyle from being comfortable to uncomfortable and may not know how to deal with it and think there is no help out in our community.

There is a great deal of help within our community, if no one around you can help It is knowing how to reach out for this help

No matter who you are, each human life on earth is so important to contribute and live a reasonably good life within your very own family, household, community, town, State, and even country. We can all be touched by the goodness we give to all living people. We can all give our love to others because if we don't give our love, we will not get it in return if we are seeking that.

As people, we all have strengths and weaknesses. In these, we need to use our psychological and physical strengths to get us out of negative situations. We can do it. I always say life always will have ups and downs but it is how we pick ourselves up from being down that will raise our emotions, actions, and words. Others around us, feed from what we say and do. If we feed them with words of love and actions that make them feel comfortable with your love, that is what is important. If others place you in a depressive mood, move on and place them in a  happy mood.

StandBy Support After Suicide is Australia’s national suicide postvention program dedicated to supporting individuals and communities bereaved or impacted by suicide. This may include supporting families, friends, children, witnesses, first responders, practitioners, schools, workplaces, and communities who have experienced a death by suicide either recently or in the past.

Find a person in your life that you would make the ideal person you would like to be. Whether it be one of your friends or anyone else. Someone that provided you the warmth, the love, the respect, the direction to go for your life's goals. 

When I was advocating for better and improved public transport within the Mount Druitt Suburbs over 13 years ago, a lady called Joan was my community idol. She was elderly and had such great local knowledge and certainly was well educated that she inspired me to get back 2 out 3 bus services back into the community and everything else I advocated for, which were all community improvements.

My idol adult growing up was my mother, God Father, they were the people to look up to become the adult that I am today. My today idol, I turn to every day is my wife for the last few years as I live my days until God wants me to leave earth. I will not make that decision for him.

So, searching for help is easy to find when we do simple research. Below are details of StandBy Support after suicide and below that I have provided you all with a list of useful resources, for help. 

There will be always someone available to listen to you and provide the best relevant support for you. There is always light at the end of a tunnel.

 

 

In South Eastern NSW, StandBy leads the NSW Post Suicide Support initiative, an NSW Ministry of Health Towards Zero Suicide program, in partnership with Roses in the Ocean, Jesuit Social Services, and the University of New England to provide the below support options in Shoalhaven and surrounds:

 

• 24/7 phone support – 1300 727 247
• Direct face-to-face, online, and telephone support for up to 2 years
• Support with navigating processes such as coroners, funerals, and media
• Specialised suicide bereavement counseling (free and unlimited)
• Peer support through lived experience workers and support groups  
• Coordinated connections with local services and groups
• Information and resources for individuals, communities, and workforces (www.standbysupport.com.au)
• Community capacity building – consultation, training, workshops, and events

 

My role is to coordinate support and act as a central point of contact for those impacted by suicide across South Eastern NSW. Anyone can access support through the 24/7 phone line 1300 727 247. If it is helpful, you are also welcome to provide my direct contact details to anyone who may need them. Additionally, if consent is obtained to pass on contact details to me, I am happy to reach out directly to anyone needing support.  

 

Please feel free to let me know if you have any questions at all,

 

List of Help services:

In case of Emergency-

Phone: 000 ask for ambulance and follow their advice

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Lifeline-

Ph: 131114

www.lifeline.org.au

Lifeline is a non-profit organisation that provides free, 24-hour telephone crisis support service in Australia. Volunteer crisis supporters provide suicide prevention services, mental health support and emotional assistance, not only via telephone but face-to-face and online.

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Beyond Blue-

Phone: 1300 224 636

www.beyondblue.org.au

Beyond Blue is an Australian mental health and wellbeing support organisation. They provide support programs to address issues related to depression, suicide, anxiety disorders and other related mental illnesses.

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Suicide Call Back Service-

Phone: 1300 659 467

www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au

Tips, information and contact numbers for emergency services for people that are with a suicidal person at risk from Suicide Call Back Service

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Blackdog Institute-

www.balckdoginstitute.org.au

The Black Dog Institute is a not-for-profit facility for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mood disorders such as depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder. It was founded in 2002 by the UNSW School of Psychiatry Scientia Professor Gordon Parker and is based in Sydney, Australia.

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Shoalhaven Suicide Prevention Awareness Network-

sspan.org.au

The Shoalhaven Suicide Prevention and Awareness Network (SSPAN) is a network of representatives from the community, government and non-government organisations. We work closely with the Shoalhaven community to raise awareness of suicide; promote recovery from mental illness; and build individual and community resilience; with the aim of reducing the impact of suicide in the Shoalhaven.

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Jesuit Social Services-support after suicide-

Phone: 1800 943 415

www.supportaftersuicide.org.au

• Heal Our Way - the new NSW Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Campaign
• 13 Yarn - 13 92 76 (24 hours/7 days): talk with an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporter
• Black Dog Institute – Resources
• Centre of Best Practice in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention (CBPATSISP)

Youth Aware of Mental Health (YAM) Volunteers Required - Shoalhaven Suicide Prevention & Awareness Network/Illawarra-Shoalhaven Suicide Prevention Collaborative

 An important message from SSPAN Scroll down to see the call for volunteers from the Collaborative. Please send out far and wide to colleagues and friends too, who may be keen to make a difference by supporting the YAM program.

Cheers

Fiona

Shoalhaven Suicide Prevention and Awareness Network Inc:

VOLUNTEERS SOUGHT TO HELP DELIVER YAM IN 2021

 

Are you passionate about promoting mental health, resilience and help-seeking in young people?

Are you willing to volunteer a small amount of time to help deliver a mental health program in schools?

We are currently seeking enthusiastic volunteers to help deliver the Youth Aware of Mental Health (YAM) program in schools across our region in 2021.

YAM is an evidence-based program which gets young people involved and talking about mental health through role-play and discussion.

 

FREE TRAINING, EXPERIENCE AND SATISFACTION

By getting involved you will gain:

•                    free training in supporting the delivery of an evidence-based mental health program for young people;

•                    experience working in the school environment with groups of young people;

•                    the satisfaction of helping young people address their mental health;

•                    a letter of reference outlining your commitment and duties.

 

A SMALL COMMITMENT

YAM is delivered in 3 parts: 2 - 3 hours per week, over 3 consecutive weeks. YAM helpers will help deliver at least one YAM program across the many schools booked in for 2021.

 

LET’S GET STARTED!

There is currently a YAM Helper Training session scheduled on Friday 29^th January from 8.30am-12.00noon @ UOW Main Campus for 2021.

To register for training, click here  Click here  or contact us @Suicide Prevention Collaborative if you have any questions.

 

We are looking forwarding to working with you this year. 

 

All the best, 

 

 

Illawarra Shoalhaven Suicide Prevention Collaborative:

         Contact details: Marie-Claude on 0439 450 989 

      Click here for the details 

      Click here for the previous post from SSPAN 

International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day - 21st November 2020 & My Thoughts As One Of Many Survivors

Spend some time remembering the good times you had with the lost loved one and you can cherish those special moment's. Remember that there is life for the survivors of lost members of your family, through suicide.

Webinar – New supports for families bereaved by suicide - SSPAN/ Illawarra-Shoalhaven Suicide Collaborative

Here is  a Webinar provide  through SSPAN* which is  organised by the Illawarra- Shoalhaven Suicide Collaborative. We hope that this may help you you, if you have the time.

Webinar – New supports for families bereaved by suicide

 

Suicide creates a devastating ripple effect across families and communities, resulting in far-reaching impacts. Impacts that often go unrecognised and unsupported. 

 

To mark the launch of a series of lived experience videos, along with the expansion of postvention support services within NSW, the Illawarra Shoalhaven Suicide Prevention Collaborative (the Collaborative) is inviting you to attend a very important webinar. 

 

The discussion will provide an opportunity to hear about the work going on in the postvention space both locally and across NSW. It will also give you a chance to become actively involved in sharing our message of hope and support. 

 

The online launch will be held on Thursday 26th November from 10.00am to 11.00am. 

 

A Q&A session will follow the presentation. Please submit any questions to: mbeaudoin@coordinare.org.au 

 

REGISTER HERE:

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2580050624936247054

• If you are experiencing issues, we suggest you copy and paste the link into your Google Chrome browser. 
• After registering, you will receive a confirmation email from Paul Lillyman containing information about joining the webinar.

We hope to see many of you there.

Marie-Claude Lallier Beaudoin on behalf of the Illawarra Shoalhaven Suicide Prevention Collaborative

 

Marie-Claude Lallier Beaudoin
Project Manager
Illawarra Shoalhaven Suicide Prevention Collaborative

*Shoalhaven Suicide Prevention & Awareness Network 

Opportunity to provide feed back survey from the Illawarra- Shoalhaven Suicide Prevention Collaborative

This is an opportunity to refer to 2 reports, one from 

• National Suicide Prevention Adviser's Interim Advice  Click here for details

and from the 

• Productivity Commission's Inquiry into the Mental Health System - Final Report Click here for details

The Taskforce is also inviting interested organisations and community members to provide feedback on the report by completing the following survey:

 Click here to complete the survey

Click here to find out where you go for support

Click here for previous post

  We thank SSPAN for providing this information to us

  

National Health Commission - no increase in suicide death in 2020 compared to the same period in 2019 - SSPAN

 EDITOR: This information may be a little comforting as we read these headlines, yet we must not feel too complacent. One loss of life through suicide is one loss too many.'

We thank the Shoalhaven Suicide Prevention and Awareness Network, for  providing us with some positive news to ponder in the meanwhile - I do hope the trans goes down to zero. Check out the NSW figures:

Some interesting information presented to this month’s collaborative meeting

 

The National Mental Health Commission has developed a self-harm and suicide monitoring system allowing for more timely access to accurate data. State-wide data for 2020 for Queensland, Victoria and NSW are now available and show no increase in suicide death in 2020 compared to the same period in 2019. Despite the common perception that COVID would have an impact on suicide rate, it is not shown it the data (it was however noted that there is an increase in psychological distress and in reaching out to support). It is important to share this information broadly as the perception of an increase can itself cause significant distress. The importance for decisions and conversations around suicide to be based on facts and evidence was emphasised.

Click here for previous post 

 

Suicide Prevention Australia - Media Release - Response To Sydney University Modelling - From Shoalhaven Suicide Prevention & Awareness Network (SSPAN)

7th May 2020

Media Release: Urgent action needed to prepare for potential increase in suicide rates

Today we issued a media release responding to University of Sydney modelling indicating a 25-50% increase in suicide rates due to COVID-19, calling on Government to overhaul the suicide prevention system and to tackle the root causes of suicide. CEO Nieves Murray said Government must desist from “policy on the run” in suicide prevention, and listen to the sector to instigate methodical and systemic change. “We can never underestimate the impact that every life lost to suicide has on family, friends, workplaces and the broader community. “The last thing we need is quick fixes, with piecemeal funding for individual programs and services. “Continuing to do the same thing, or more of the same, will not change the rate of suicide. We must think and act differently. “We need an inclusive, whole-of-government, whole-of-community effort to create a mentally well society and prevent suicides from occurring, both during the COVID-19 pandemic and after. “This means creating an environment where all parts of government work together to prevent suicide – tackling risk factors like unemployment, housing insecurity, and financial distress, rather than waiting until people in our community reach the point of crisis. “We know that at least 15% of all suicide deaths aren’t connected with an established mental health issue, but are connected to distressing life events like losing a job, being in too much debt, being socially isolated or losing a loved one. “We’re calling on the Government this Friday to take a long term view in its national package, and one which considers suicide as an expression of many factors – not just mental ill health,” said Ms Murray. Suicide Prevention Australia is calling for the following: Investing in a dedicated, well-resourced National Suicide Prevention Office. Passing a Suicide Prevention Act to make every government agency responsible for tackling the root causes of suicide – as we see in nations that have seen a reduction in their suicide rate, like the Republic of Ireland and Japan. Set up a national suicide register as a priority. Train key ‘connectors’ in frontline Government roles to recognise the signs of suicidal distress and connect them to support services – this means suicide prevention training for every Centrelink and/or tax office across the nation. Rolling out a new iteration of the National Mental Health and Wellbeing Survey over the next two months, so we have a clear picture rather than just predictive modelling. Sharing real-time data with all government departments, as well as suicide prevention researchers, program and service agents. Funding the states and territories to rapidly set up safe space ‘pop ups’ so that people who are in suicidal crisis have options other than waiting in emergency departments for help. “If the Government listens to our recommendations, then we can start to turn the tide of suicide in Australia. “I urge the Government to not be reactive to the loudest voice, or work with the chosen few, but listen to the messages of the broader sector. “Now is the time to take action – before the crisis becomes unmanageable, and thousands of vulnerable people are left in distress and risk hitting crisis point,” said Ms Murray.

READ MORE

Click here for previous post

Prime Ministers Announces National Commissioner For Defence & Suicide Prevention

Prime Minister announces National Commissioner for Defence and Suicide Prevention Suicide Prevention Australia, the national peak body for suicide prevention, has commended the decision by the Federal Government to appoint a permanent independent commissioner to investigate veteran suicide. Suicide Prevention Australia has been calling for immediate action on veteran suicide, citing the lack of reliable data and delays with claims processing as two issues requiring urgent attention. Suicide Prevention Australia CEO, Nieves Murray said, “We recently met with the minister’s office and they clearly listened to us and other people concerned about the veteran suicide rate. “This announcement means no wasted money on a Royal Commission, instead a dedicated specialist resource to look at the issue. “Every suicide death is a tragedy and it’s especially tragic to hear that our servicemen and woman, who’ve dedicated their lives to our country, are taking their own lives,” said Ms Murray. We urge the commissioner to focus on three key issues: collection and collation of reliable data, information sharing across jurisdictions and the compensation claims process. In particular, we are calling for the collection and collation of reliable data at a national level on veteran suicide. The latest available data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows that more than 400 veterans, servicemen and women have taken their own lives since 2001 and 2017. Ms Murray said, “It’s likely this isn’t the full picture as there are significant discrepancies between the data reported by Government bodies and the information reported by advocacy groups. Much of this hinges on every jurisdiction putting in place a Suicide Deaths Register like the registers already up and running in Victoria, Tasmania and Queensland. “We are also calling on the Commonwealth, States and Territories to work together to share the information they hold concerning the services and supports available for veterans. This will assist in targeting services proactively where there are signs someone is in need of support. “A practical mechanism to support this outcome would be to include within a National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement a requirement for accurate, reliable suicide deaths data,” said Ms Murray. The Department of Veterans Affairs must improve the compensation claims process for veterans and address systemic delays. “We particularly need to see shorter timeframes for the permanent impairment application process which can take more than 22 weeks, placing veterans and their families at significant financial and emotional stress. “I look forward to working with the commissioner and ensuring the welfare of our veterans and service people are at the forefront of the agenda,” said Ms Murray. Suicide Prevention Australia remembers those we have lost to suicide and acknowledges the suffering suicide brings when it touches our lives. We are brought together by experience and are unified by hope. Suicide Prevention Australia acknowledges the traditional owners of country throughout Australia, and their continuing connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures, and to elders past, present and emerging.

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