Introducing the Great South Coast Suicide Prevention Strategy

A handful of agencies are pooling their resources to tackle the issue of suicide. 

The Great South Coast Suicide Prevention Strategy has been named Fight For Your Life and hopes to halve suicide in the region by 2023.

Lifeline community engagement manager Carly Dennis said the group was creating a single point of communication.

“We’re using the strengths of each organisation to its potential and coming together as one,” she said. 

“We’re fighting for everybody’s life. Everyone deserves to live.

“We will be seeing and hearing more with one voice.”

South West Healthcare Mental Health Services senior psychologist Rachel Robertson said the project would be a first in the region.

“The group allows us to provide a more coordinated pathway for the community,” she said.

The group hopes to bring training, support and information to the community with the aim of preventing further deaths by suicide. 

Headspace Warrnambool regional manager Anne Waters said the strategy was still in its early stages.

“We want to turn the bell curve around,” she said. 

Working with the same vision, the group was formed to construct a coordinated response to suicide prevention and encourage help-seeking behavior. 

By the end of the year Fight For Your Life expects to have launched a website and started research work.

If you or someone you know needs help contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Headspace on 1800 650 890.