With the rate of suicide much higher for Aboriginal people than non-indigenous people, a need for a specific suicide prevention program to support rural Aboriginal communities has been identified by the Centre for Rural and Remote Health.
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The centre’s Farm-Link program, soon to be renamed Good Space, is currently rolling out We-Yarn suicide prevention workshops specifically targeted at Aboriginal people across rural New South Wales.
The We-Yarn workshops have been developed in consultation with staff from Moree’s Pius X Aboriginal Coorperation, as well as Aboriginal elders in Moree.
This month, workshops will be held in Moree and Toomelah for Aboriginal people, giving them the opportunity to go along and have a yarn about social and emotional wellbeing within their mob, focussing on suicide prevention, grief and loss, and how they can help their community and people stay safe.
Farm-Link project coordinator Fiona Livingstone said the workshops will be similar to their regular suicide prevention worksops but will be specifically targeted at Aboriginal people.
“We know that across the board Aboriginal people die by suicide at least twice the rate of non-Aboriginal people,” she said.
“And among certain age groups the situation is much more serious with young Aboriginal men up to seven times more at risk of suicide.
“It needs more attention, so we’re attempting to do something that hasn’t been done in our area before.”
Ms Livingstone said there are a number of reasons contributing to the high rates of Aboriginal suicide and which make it different to non-indigenous suicide.
“Before colonisation, Aboriginal suicide didn’t exist – there was no evidence to show they took their own lives,” she said.
“It’s only really been an issue in the last 40 years as a result of racism, discrimination, a lack of opportunity and being disadvantaged.
“Aboriginal people have experienced so much grief and loss and trauma and intergenerational trauma.
“Suicide clusters also tend to be more common and their protective factors have been reduced.
“These are all things that need to be discussed.”
The We-Yarn workshops will deliver unique quality training in suicide prevention, with a strong focus on health and well-being for Aboriginal people.
The interactive workshop helps participants discuss suicide prevention in a safe and friendly environment, builds on Aboriginal understandings of life, the land, family and other key beliefs, and is co-presented by an Aboriginal person – former NRL player Nathan Blacklock who has his own experiences with suicide.
Ms Livingstone strongly encourages people to attend the workshops where they will gain skills to potential save a life.
“Many people do not seek help if they’re thinking about suicide, so it’s important people in the community can pick up the signs and encourage that person to get help,” she said.
“Most people have been impacted by suicide in one form or another. It’s a growing issue that needs to be addressed. By learning about it and talking about it, people could potential be saving lives.”
The Moree workshop will be held on Monday, June 26 from 10am to 3pm at Pius X and is open to Aboriginal health, youth and community workers, Aboriginal elders and people. Lunch will be provided.
Contact Ray Dennison on 6752 1099 or email program-officer@piusx.com.au to RSVP by June 19.
There will be two workshops in Toomelah, one specifically for Aboriginal men and another for women.
The men’s workshop will be held on Wednesday, June 14, while the women’s one will be held on Wednesday, June 28. Both will be held at the Community Health Building from 10am to 3pm. Lunch will be provided.
Contact Ann Marie Thomas on (07) 4671 9706 or email athomas@piusx.com.au to RSVP by June 21.
For more information about the workshops go to www.crrmh.com.au or call Carmel Sullivan on 0419 707 211 or email carmel.osullivan@newcastle.edu.au.
If you or anyone you know needs help call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Why is the rate of suicide higher for Aboriginal people?
It’s very widely accepted that it stems from the results of colonisation which have resulted in:
- Loss of identity, culture and spirituality
- Loss of land
- Trauma which gets passed down to the younger generations – intergenerational trauma
- Aboriginal people turning to substance abuse which has many ripple effects
- Life expectancy is signifcantly less
- They have a lot more exposure to death and loss
- They’re more likely to have a range of health issues including diabetes and heart disease
- More likely to be unemployed and experience racism, discimination etc.
However…
While there are a number of factors working against them, Ms Livingstone says it’s not all doom and gloom as Aboriginal people also tend to be stronger and more versatile.
“Look at what they have endured, there’s so much strength to be found,” she said.
“Their connection to each other, the land and their spirituality is something to be admired.
“Things can be done and people can survive, we just need the skills to do that.”
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