Western Victoria Primary Health Network launches the Great South Coast Suicide Prevention Place Based Trial

On Friday Western Victoria Primary Health Network launched the Great South Coast Suicide Prevention Place Based Trial, an initiative aimed at delivering activities to reduce the suicide rate in the Great South Coast.

"It is a very important topic we are talking about," Glenelg Shire Mayor and Great South Coast Leadership Group Chair Cr Anita Rank said.

"The latest from the coroner is that there have been 466 suicides in Victoria, that is 466 too many and our goal is to try to reduce those numbers as much as we possibly can and reduce that number to zero."

Latest data shows that between 2014 and 2018, suicide was the ninth-highest cause of death in men in Warrnambool City, Corangamite Shire and Southern Grampians Shire.

In Moyne Shire suicide is the 13^th highest cause of death in men, and the 12^th highest among men in Colac Otway Shire.

Fortunately it is not among the top 20 leading causes of death in Glenelg Shire.

Karen Foster, executive officer at the GSCG, said the trial involves the development and delivery of a series of complementary activities by local health organisations and community groups that will help those suffering from suicidal thoughts and their families and friends.

"It aims to reduce the rate of death by suicide in our region, too many families have been touched by suicide here," she said.

"It impacts all walks of life and the rates of suicide in the region are unacceptably high.

"We want to make sure every person has access to support when and where they need it.

"This is about identifying service gaps and trialing evidence-based activities."

Only one of 12 trials across Victoria, it is supported by the state and federal government.

Wannon MP Dan Tehan said it was an important initiative for country communities impacted by suicide.

"Communities are left in great pain now knowing why someone takes their life and this is about seeking answers to make sure it doesn't happen again," he said.

"I remember as a young boy there was a boy three years older than me who took his life, and often when there's one suicide it triggers more, and in this case more young people did take their lives as well.

"The devastation and impact on the community at the time was just awful and the fact we are here today launching a trial is so important for local communities."

The federal government has contributed $600,000 to work with the state government and Western Victoria PHN on the project.

"We need to make sure we can understand what the triggers are and what support can be provided to help those thinking life has become hopeless and best thing they can do is take their life, that think they have no option," Minister Tehan continued.

"We have to make sure the support processes are there, when people are released from hospital or from care that can be the point in time to be offering assistance the most."

The trial will involve work with The Connect Back project, Headspace, Outside the Locker Room, Live4Life and National Centre for Farmer Health.

Todd Morgan, Victoria Program Coordinator of Outside the Locker Room said the organisation will be offering our mental health support program to 12 organisations in the local government areas of the Great South Coast.

Participants will attend a mental health education session and receive 12 months of dedicated support from our welfare team, all at no cost.

"There still exists huge stigma around mental health conditions and suicide, particularly in regional communities," he said.

"Our aim is that by raising awareness of mental health challenges and promoting frank conversations about how to help one another, members of the community will seek support sooner. And if they're seeking support from our welfare team, then we're making it easier for them to get a foot in the door of the mental healthcare system and be walking in the right direction.

"We support any effort to reduce the rate of suicide, but this particular trial is significant for its place-based and community-centred approach. Mental health conditions and suicide don't occur in a vacuum, so it's not effective to use a 'one size fits all' approach.

"To be able to support community groups from a large area such as the Great South Coast, with its many communities and cultures, this trial is fantastic, and it is fantastic to be a part of it."

If you or someone you know needs help, you can call Lifeline Australia (13 11 14), Beyond Blue (1800 512 348), or Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800).

READ MORE:

Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.