Microsoft word - newsletter jun1

June 2011
Hope for Life News
Nadine Bartholomeusz-Raymond, who is the program manager forregional communities with Beyond Blue, stated in an interview for We are looking forward to continuing our training,
ABS Rural that the higher rates of suicide are because of the resources and initiatives in the second half of 2011. If you
additional stresses in rural communities, with ongoing would like to know any more about our work or interested
environmental adversity - such as droughts and floods (6/5/2011).
in training, please don’t hesitate to get in contact with us.
A survey by the Queensland branch of the Australian Medical Association found that nearly 60 per cent of doctors have seen, or expect to see, a rise in mental health problems in areas where the These depressing facts highlight the need for improved support, In this issue. we are looking at mental health in regional
education and services in regional and remote Australia – not onlyin the area of suicide prevention, but also in mental health, which is and remote Australia. With the 2011-12 Federal Budget delivering a a major contributor factor to suicidal behaviour.
10-year roadmap for mental health reform and with TreasurerWayne Swan allocating $2.2 bil ion over five years via a National What are the key issues?
Mental Health Reform package, it is hoped that mental health inregional areas of Australia wil receive the boost that it so Access to appropriate health care and mental health services in many regional and remote communities is limited meaningthat many conditions go undiagnosed and untreated. In many This issue’s feature article wil look at the current state of mental cases the local GP is the sole provider of health care in a health in regional Australia, the issues involved as wel highlight community meaning that there is a lot of pressure on them to some programs and organisations that are working hard to make a have the knowledge and skil s to identify signs of mental il ness or suicidal tendency and then provide the appropriatetreatment.
Please read our information about a new Hope for Life initiativecalled ‘Hope for Life Champions’, you may know somebody who 91% of Australia’s psychiatrists have their main practice in metropolitan areas meaning that either people from regionaland remote communities need to travel long distances for We also review the book ‘Against Depression’ by Peter Kramer and treatment or ‘do without’ (National Rural Health Al iance, let you know about about upcoming suicide prevention & A shortage of workers in the rural health sector often means The current state of mental health in regional Australia.
that people are not able to be provided with the fol ow-up orout-patient care that they require.
Rates of suicide and suicide attempts are higher in rural andremote populations of Australia, with very remote regions The ‘ocker’ male Australian culture encourages men to ‘suck it having suicide rates more than double that of major capital up’ and not be ‘wimps’ when confronted with adversity or difficulty. Expressing or talking about emotions and feelings isnot widely accepted in the Australian culture, particularly in Males who live in rural and remote communities are Australian outback/regional communities who pride particularly at risk with their suicide rates being 1.7-2.6 times themselves on being rugged, self-sufficient and tough.
higher than their urban counterparts. (Commonwealth ofAustralia, 2010).
Farmers and local business owners often feel an ‘obligation’ tothe community as the success of their business often has a Evidence shows that the prevalence of depression is no significant impact on the economic state of the community different in rural communities than it is in metro communities (through employment, spending etc). This may result in them in the city, the rates of suicides are higher in rural experiencing feelings of stress and anxiety, but also having communities, because untreated depression is a higher risk reluctance to seek help for these feelings.
Natural disasters such as drought, cyclones, floods, bushfiresand pest infestations also contribute to mental il ness and The Salvation Army Hope for Life Suicide Prevention & Bereavement Support The Salvation Army Hope For Life Program grateful y acknowledges the financial assistance of the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing through the National Suicide Prevention Strategy. have a very direct impact on income and wel being for rural Access to violent and immediate means of death (e.g.
Australians (National Rural Health Al iance, 2009).
firearms) raises the completion rates of suicide in regional andremote Australia.
The seasonal employment nature of many regional andremote communities adds to the financial stress and social ‘Gatekeepers’ in regional and remote communities include isolation felt by many people who live in these areas.
community health nurses, teachers, local governmentpersonnel, sports coaches, and smal business owners. Most of The existence of factors such as ‘suicide clusters’ found in who have not had any training in suicide prevention or suicide many Indigenous communities also adds to the increased rate of suicide in regional and remote Australia.
Who are Hope for Life Champions?
Hope for Life Champions
Hope for Life Champions are everyday people who are The Hope for Life Champion Initiative is al about change at a passionate about suicide prevention and supporting those local level and helping communities to recognise that they who have lost a loved one through the tragedy of suicide.
can make a positive difference. By enlisting the help of Champions are also people who want to advocate for motivated, educated and committed people (Champions) change at a local level and are committed and motivated who can communicate effectively, advocate and engage with their local community, this project aims to build the One of the key messages of Hope for Life is that everyone capacity of Australians to help each other.
has a role to play in suicide prevention and bereavement Specifical y, through the work undertaken by Hope for Life support. The Champions initiative gives people in the Champions, it is hoped that communities wil : community an opportunity to make a difference by • increase their awareness of issues relating to suicide Champions seek to engage others in suicide prevention and • create more linkages between those at risk and existing bereavement support activities. They educate people about issues and ways to help. They also advocate on behalf of • become more proactive and active in not only suicide those at risk, those bereaved and the Hope for Life project prevention activities, but also in providing support to by building awareness and creating community linkages at those who have lost a loved one through suicide (e.g.
undertaking QPR and Hope for Life training on line); and Hope for Life Champions are special people who volunteer • improve their ability to respond appropriately to those to be a shining light of hope in their community.
at risk of suicide and those bereaved by suicide.
Champions are not employed on a paid basis by The Role of Hope for Life Champions
Salvation Army to act in this role, but rather they look for,and create, opportunities to champion the suicide Hope for Life Champions have three main elements to their prevention cause as part of their everyday life. They may do role; engagement, community awareness and public this by offering to speak at their local school assembly, putting up posters on local notice boards, visiting community centres and other relevant organisations to talk Engagement: In order for a Champion to successful y
about Hope for Life or undertaking other activities in their promote change within their community they must be local community that wil help to educate others about engaged with it. This may mean meeting new people, suicide prevention and bereavement support issues.
creating mutual y beneficial networks and learning about thelocal community; what business exist, what social supportservices are available, what social and leisure activities are Why do we need Hope for Life Champions?
popular and who are the people that live there.
Suicide can happen to anyone. Suicide crosses al boundaries Community Awareness and Public Education: One of the
including age, socio economic position, gender, ethnicity and biggest issues in suicide prevention and bereavement family status and yet suicide is a preventable form of death.
support is that many people stil do not understand the If people feel supported, if they have access to a listening issues involved or have been wrongly educated. Dispel ing ear, if they are given hope that tomorrow wil be better, that the myths and removing the stigma that surrounds this topic the future can be brighter, people who are suicidal can go on wil only be done through talking about the issues, to live happy, productive and fulfil ing lives.
identifying the facts and sharing the stories.
Hope for Life Champions can do al of this, and are needed in Advocacy: Advocacy simply means encouraging change and
al walks of life; in schools, in the workplace, in churches, in the Hope for Life Champions are agents of change within youth groups, in sporting clubs and in al areas of the their community. They are advocating for those who are risk of suicide (now and in the future) as wel as for those who The Salvation Army Hope for Life Suicide Prevention & Bereavement Support The Salvation Army Hope For Life Program grateful y acknowledges the financial assistance of the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing through the National Suicide Prevention Strategy. are bereaved through suicide in the hope that through For more information and to obtain a Champion application greater community engagement and improved understanding, people wil be better able to reach out andhelp each other.
Please contact
It is important to note that Champions are ambassadors forThe Salvation Army and the Hope for Life project and E | stephanie.wilks@aue.salvationarmy.org
therefore, it is important that Champions act professional y T | 02 9356 2120
and responsibly when performing their duties as Champions.
How to become a Hope for Life Champion M | 0435 967 265
www.suicideprevention.salvos.org.au
Hope for life is recruiting Champions and we wil providetraining and resources which wil equip Champions to become Agents of Hope in their local community.
Book Review - ‘Against Depression’ by Peter Kramer Kramer wrote this book after being deluged by stories of depression, depression research, and patients after he wrote ‘Listening to Prozac’.
While touring for this and his previous works, he would often be asked a question, "what if Van Gogh had taken prozac?" The real question he'sbeing asked is whether depression should be cured, or whether curing depression would take away something that is an essential part of beinghuman. In ‘Against Depression’ Kramer helps the reader understand exactly what depression is and what it is not; That it can affect a person'sheart literally as wel as figuratively. He seeks to divorce human emotions, which he celebrates, from the il ness of depression by focussing on thescience of the brain. Even those who have a vast knowledge of depression, personal or otherwise, wil find this book a valuable educational tool.
For information on these and other upcoming events please visit 14th NSW Rural Mental Health Conference (22 Jun-24 Jun)
Rural & Remote Mental Health Conference 2011 (9 Aug-11 Aug)
12th International Mental Health Conference (24 Aug-26 Aug)
Grief and bereavement - International Perspectives (Australian Centre for Grief & Bereavement)
Sydney (17 & 18 October); Melbourne (20 & 21 October) Training in Suicide Prevention and Bereavement SupportWould you know what to do? Would you know what to say? Would you know where to go for help? Are you interested in finding out more about Information, resources and training for those that support people who areat risk of suicide or lost a loved one to suicide? Hope for Life wil help you to develop the skil s, confidence andknowledge to respond to these situations.
The Salvation Army Hope for Life Suicide Prevention & Bereavement Support The Salvation Army Hope For Life Program grateful y acknowledges the financial assistance of the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing through the National Suicide Prevention Strategy.

Source: http://suicideprevention.salvos.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Newsletter-Jun11.pdf