Adelaide Riverbank sunflower ceremony to remember lives lost to suicide
MEDIA CALL – 12.pm, Monday 29 April 2024, Regattas Adelaide Convention Centre
- 12 noon to interview lived experience speakers before the service
- 12.30-1.30pm Suicide memorial service with sunflower ceremony
- Regattas, Adelaide Convention Centre
People who have been impacted by the death of a loved one or friend through suicide will be given the opportunity to come together to remember at a memorial service in Adelaide ahead of a national suicide prevention conference.
The Wesley LifeForce Suicide Memorial Service will be held at Regattas at the Adelaide Convention Centre and concludes with a sunflower ceremony with people invited to honour their loved one by placing a sunflower at the specially erected memorial wall, that looks out to the Adelaide Riverbank.
The service brings the community together in a spirit of comfort, support and hope. People with lived experience will share their stories and all guests given the opportunity to add messages to a memorial wall. Counsellors from Wesley Mission and StandBy will be present to offer support.
Wesley Mission CEO, Rev Stu Cameron, will deliver a message of hope, recognising that the pain of suicide loss is not eased quickly and the journey to healing complex.
More people are lost to suicide than die on the roads each year. It affects all ages, genders and ethnicities. Beyond the tragic loss of the person, the impact of a suicide death is felt by up to 135 people, including family members, work colleagues, friends and first responders. Bereavement by suicide can impact physical and mental health.
Sunflowers have long been considered a symbol of hope, strength and resilience as the vibrant yellow flower, supported by a strong stem, turns its face towards the sun.
Available for interview:
- Rev Stu Cameron, Wesley Mission CEO and Superintendent
- Chloe Cameron and Perrin Abbas - Lived experience speakers
- Bethany Farley – Wesley LifeForce National Training Manager
Media contact Anne Holt on 0418 628 342 or Bethany Farley on 0428 547 384
About Wesley Mission’s Suicide Prevention work
Wesley LifeForce is a national suicide prevention program run by Wesley Mission that educates, empowers and resources local communities, supporting people most at risk. More than 40,000 people have been trained through the program during the past 15 years.
With a presence in every state, focusing on areas where the problem of suicide hits the hardest, Wesley LifeForce Suicide Prevention Networks are community-led action groups addressing suicide at a local level. So far, there are 130 groups across Australia representing a membership of more than 2,500 people. New networks are being established every year through the support of the Commonwealth Government and Primary Health Networks.
For further information click here.
MEDIA PLEASE NOTE: Most people – including media professionals – have been touched by suicide. For many people, the service will be one of mixed emotions. We ask that you respect the privacy of people who are attending and those participating in the service.
For safe reporting guidelines on suicide go to:
https://everymind.org.au/resources/mindframe-for-media-professionals
People who are experiencing distress can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.