A GROUP of Mount Gambier individuals has been awarded for helping to save lives in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community through suicide prevention.
The Mount Gambier Treasuring Life South East Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Network was honoured at the recent Aboriginal Health Council of South Australia (ACHSA) Health Awards.
The network took out the award in the category of “Outstanding Health Program/Project from ACHSA Membership – Regional”.
Established in January 2015, the network has implemented various suicide prevention initiatives since that time.
They have recently rolled out the Nguldun Palli (strong future), The Live Long and Live Strong Suicide Prevention initiatives for 55 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
Statistics show the rate of suicide in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in South Australia is significantly higher compared with the non-indigenous community.
In fact, in some parts of the state these figures are more than twice as high.
Country Health Connect (CHC) Aboriginal health worker Peter May – who is one of the original members of the network – said the group was delighted with the award.
He said the initiatives rolled out by the network aimed to build confidence, resilience, self-esteem, self-identity and cultural pride through educational and interactive team building sessions.
“The award is definitely a delight and victory for the Treasuring Life and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Network,” Mr May said.
The network is the only one of its type in South Australia.
With the suicide rate higher among the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, he said the initiative was helping to save lives.
“We can never make a correct estimate about what lives we are saving. We are doing it in a way through implementing annual initiatives,” Mr May said.
These initiatives target the youth sector and the general community.
“It is about breaking down stigma around suicide – this is what our network has been designed to do.”
He said the network worked to open up discussion within the local community.
“I think we have made some ground there. We have attracted 85 young people to our initiatives that provide our young people and people in general, with educational and interactive sessions around suicide and culture.”
He said the initiative aimed to “keep individuals safe” as well as building individual and community resilience.
“We get a lot of valuable help from SA Health. Without that valuable support, in terms of moral support and funding, we would have problems rolling out quality initiatives,” Mr May said.
He said the network’s philosophy was focused on “working with youth rather than working on youth” and engaging meaningful discussions.
Moreover, Mr May thanked Country Arts SA for a $25,000 grant to progress works for its new “The Message Sticks” project.
“We can now continue with the project, which will hopefully one day result in a theatrical performance on suicide prevention,” he said.
“We hope this performance will look at one family in a rural sector who have unfortunately experienced multiple deaths by suicide.”
