People from all walks of life are affected by suicide and suicide attempts, and September is the time to open up discussion.
September 8 is RUOK? Day and September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day. Both days aim to reach out to people with mental illness to reassure them help is available.
The Land and Rural Adversity Mental Health Program (RAMHP) are hosting the Friday Forum at noon today, September 2, to discuss suicide prevention.
Life can be tough and problems can seem overwhelming at times. It can be very difficult to know what to do and how to cope, but there is help available.
Our expert panellists are Farm-Link suicide prevention project worker Fiona Livingstone; community welfare worker Rose Hogan who helps the bereaved; psychologist Rachael Buckerfield, and rural accredited mental health social worker Alice Munro.
They are ready to answer your questions about a number of important issues, including:
- Preventing suicide and providing support in tough times
- How to tell if someone is thinking about suicide and what to do about it
- How to have a difficult conversation
- How to reduce stigma associated with mental illness, and
- Understanding what it is like to be bereaved by suicide.
You can ask questions of the panel on the day.