A PUSH to bring an early intervention youth suicide prevention program to the state's Riverina region is gaining traction.
Concerned stakeholders are raising funds to bring the not-for-profit Big Brothers Big Sisters Australia to Griffith, in a bid to curb rising suicide rates in the region.
According to statistics released by NSW Health, in the period from 2016 to 2017, the Murrumbidgee region had a suicide rate of 20.9 per 100,000 population, almost three times the rate of 7.8 in Sydney.
The rise comes after the region and Sydney were on an equal rate for the previous decade, but since 2011, the suicide rate in the Murrumbidgee region has risen by 59 per cent according to NSW Health statistics.
In light of the concerning figures, an advisory group was formed by local stakeholders Rachael Veenhuizen, Val Woodland, Trish Leonard, Michele Harvey, Kate Hardman, Filomena Pingiaro and Sue Hone and is chaired by Air Force Cadets Flight Lieutenant Michael Borg, who said it was crucial for any suicide prevention measures to be taken.
"We've had a number of suicides over the past 18 months and it really does take a toll on the whole community," Mr Borg told The Land.
"Recently, we had our last committee meeting for the year and we had the CEO of Big Brothers, Big Sisters come along and meet with our local business chamber, which has come onboard.
"Griffith City Council is also getting behind us and we are working towards our first major event on April 1 next year in Griffith."
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The event will act as a major fundraiser to help establish the program in the Griffith region and the group has also applied for a grant through the federal government's Building Resilient Regional Leaders Program.
"Importantly, we have a few young people, Paige Goudie, Alice Ryan and Imreet Singh, on the committee which is really important for us to truly understand what young people need," Mr Borg said.
"I think everyone at one time or another has been touched by a suicide in our community, I know through the Air Force Cadets I've lost someone that was a former member to suicide and I don't want to lose any more.
"This is where Big Brothers Big Sisters Australia comes into it, we aren't counsellors, psychologists or psychiatrists, as the name says, we are a big brother or a big sister who is there when you need them.
"What we do need at the moment is some funding and we are tying to raise about $55,000 to get the program off the ground, to train the mentors and hire a part-time employee who can work alongside the volunteers we already have."
Murray MP Helen Dalton has been helping lead the push to bring the program to Griffith and she said she was hopeful the program, aimed at seven to 17-year-olds, would make a big difference in the community.
"It's doing great things in regional Victoria and we really want to get it up in Griffith," Mrs Dalton said.
"Griffith has one of the highest suicide rates in Australia and we need more services for our young people in distress."
If successful, Mrs Dalton said she was hopeful the program could be extended to nearby communities such as Leeton, Narrandera, Hay, Hillston and Deniliquin.
"People can also make a donation to help get this program off the ground and we have a guarantee that all money raised for Griffith must stay in Griffith," Mrs Dalton said.
"I'd urge locals to get behind this initiative because so many parents have come to me and said they felt they've had nowhere to turn when their teenager was suicidal.
"We need to do better and we can."
To help get Big Brothers Big Sisters Australia in the Riverina contact Mrs Dalton's Griffith office on 6962 6644.
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