Suicide prevention a focal point in Adelaide from next week – 29 April 2024
Mon 29 April 2024
Adelaide Riverbank sunflower ceremony to remember lives lost to suicide
People who have been impacted by the death of a loved one or friend through suicide will be given the opportunity this Monday 29 April 2024 to come together to remember them at a memorial service in Adelaide ahead of a national suicide prevention conference.
The Wesley LifeForce Suicide Memorial Service will be held from 12.20-1.30pm 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. (see attached media release and invitation)
Tues 30 April – Thurs 2 May 2024
Suicide Prevention Australia National Conference
10 May 2024
Free for the community - Wesley LifeForce Suicide Prevention Training
9:30 am – 4:00pm at Education Development Centre, 4 Milner St., Hindmarsh, SA 5007
With the most recent ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2023) figures showing the rate of South Australian suicide deaths per 100,000 remaining consistently higher than the national average, and the most common cause of death for young people aged 15-24, Wesley LifeForce is offering South Australians in both metropolitan and regional areas free community-based suicide prevention training sessions.
Opening conversations around suicide is vital to increase awareness and help prevent suicide in our communities – but knowing exactly how to do that can be daunting.
Over 10 million Australian adults are estimated to know someone who has died by suicide. One in two young people are impacted by suicide by the time they turn 25 and around 8-9 lives are lost by suicide every day.
Wesley LifeForce National Training Manager Bethany Farley says it is all about community supporting community. “We are all very passionate about reducing the stigma and incidence of suicide,” says Bethany. “Our free programs are designed to provide community members with the understanding of suicide as a whole in Australia; understand the risk factors and warning signs to look for.
“We teach key methods on how to have that intervention conversation,” she adds. “For a lot of people that’s really scary, so we break it down so it’s not so frightening.”
The half day or full day free Suicide Prevention training educates people about suicide, challenging attitudes, teaching basic engagement and suicide intervention skills.
“Participants will gain increased confidence in their ability to identify people who may be at risk of suicide, communicate appropriately, ask a person if they are considering suicide and conduct a suicide intervention,” says Bethany.
Available for interview from Tues 23 April – Mon 29 April 2024
Wesley Mission CEO, Rev Stu Cameron – Wesley LifeForce National Training Manager, Bethany Farley - Wesley LifeForce General Manager Andy Moore
Media contact: Anne Holt 0418 628 342
