LIMESTONE coast Aboriginal health worker Peter May has been recognised for his dedication to the community, placing third in the annual LiFE Awards last month.
Nominated for his work in creating the Treasuring Life – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Network, the quiet achiever said he was shocked and taken aback when he heard the news.
“I think people who know me understand that I don’t easily come forward, for me it’s not about self glorification, it’s about the community and working for a cause that is very important to me,” he said.
Working in the area of suicide prevention for many years, and having a personal connection to suicide with his best friend, brother and niece all taking their own lives, Mr May’s ambition to help others is evident.
“It can hurt so much, but there is a way through it and if you take some time out as an individual to self heal and dissect some of the things you need to in order to move on, you will get there and empower yourself,” he said.
“It is still raw and I don’t think that will ever go away, but one thing I am sure about is that I need to get out there as a worker and prevent this dreaded thing we call suicide by doing things directly and appropriately for our community.”
Working alongside Lifeline South East chief executive officer Eve Barratt, the two thought it was time for the Mount Gambier Aboriginal community to start the process of having its own plan.
“It became clear at a suicide prevention meeting that our Aboriginal community members in this region were ready to have meaningful discussions around suicide prevention, because let’s face it there is really that shame factor that still exists,” Mr May said.
Actively meeting and discussing Treasuring Life with the wider community, Mr May said it was important to promote the fact life is very valuable and precious.
“It’s about getting out their into our community and planning and implementing suicide prevention education sessions,” he said.
“We do know that over the years in our lives, we may face many negative hurdles, but it’s about getting over those hurdles positively and empowering people with the right information to keep them safe.”
Since the network was created, Mr May has joined together with Grant High School Aboriginal secondary education and transition officer Katharine Watson to develop and implement sessions with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students at the school.
Securing a grant of $10,000 from SA Health, they worked together to help heal students who were suffering from bullying, depression, anxiety and a loss of cultural identity.
“A lot of cultural identity has been lost, so many young people feel like they are fakes and the depression and anxiety can impede them from coming to school or finishing their education,” Ms Watson said.
“It’s about doing some healing from the inside and closing that gap in education between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.”
The sessions proved a great success with Mount Gambier High School also choosing to join the program.
“The findings from the evaluations were very clear that these individuals made progress and there were behavioural changes at both schools,” Mr May said.
“Some of the commentary that students made was so inspiring, it inspired me that much that I have gone back to Grant High School to hopefully roll out a youth suicide prevention camp.
“We are just waiting to see if we are successful again to get another grant.”
Nominating Mr May for the award alongside Ms Barratt, Ms Watson said she was inspired by the hard work of Mr May to help the Mount Gambier Aboriginal community.
“Peter has been in this community for a very long time and is one of those quiet achievers, he goes under the radar and doesn’t get enough recognition for what he does,” Ms Watson said.
“He has worked in our community in a variety of roles and even when I came out in the community and was trying to find myself, he was one of the people who helped me to really find my cultural identity.”
Normally preferring to be in the background encouraging other people, Ms Barratt said they felt it was appropriate for Mr May to have his moment to shine.
“It is important for the community to know that there is a lot of good work that is being done in the area of suicide prevention,” she said.
“Sadly it is only when a family member or group of friends experience suicide that they really become aware of it, but suicide is the number one cause of death for all people in Australia under 45 years, especially men.
“It is something that is a community problem, a community concern and needs a community response.
“In our community, Peter is part of our response.”
