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25
Mar
2019
When: Tuesday March 26 at 10am
Where: Lismore Regional Gallery, Rural St, Lismore
Attendees include:
North Coast Primary Health Network (NCPHN) is pleased to announce that Federal MP Kevin Hogan will officially launch the Lismore Suicide Prevention Action Plan on 26 March 2019.
In 2018, NCPHN provided Commonwealth funding under the National Suicide Prevention Trial of $380,000 to Lifeline Direct. The funding contributes to the ongoing employment of the Lismore Community Project Coordinator, Cath Bird, who is working closely with the Lismore Suicide Prevention Collaborative to implement the initiatives under the Lismore Suicide Prevention Action Plan (LSPAP).
While the LSPAP involves a whole of community approach, the plan will focus on ensuring suicide prevention strategies are inclusive of Aboriginal Peoples, veterans, the LGBTIQ+ community and young people.
Mr Hogan said he was proud to be part of a government that was funding communities to find local, innovative solutions that promote help-seeking behaviour.
“It is clear there is strong support for community-led approaches that nurture and support mentally healthy communities,” he said.
NCPHN’s CEO Julie Sturgess thanked Cath Bird and the Lismore Suicide Prevention Collaborative for their work and said the launch was an exciting milestone in creating a community-led, multi-sector approach to preventing suicide.
“This model of funding means that the Lismore Suicide Prevention Collaborative can identify priority areas and implement local evidence-based approaches to improve mental health and wellbeing in the community.”
General Manager, Community and Engagement, Lifeline Direct, June Anderson, said the Commonwealth funds provided through North Coast Primary Health Network are a great example of how funding can build capacity for local communities to be able to work together towards a more suicide safe community.
“Lifeline is committed to contributing to the implementation of community-based suicide prevention strategies – the Lismore Suicide Prevention project and Action Plan provides an excellent opportunity for us to do exactly that”.
Lismore Suicide Prevention Project Coordinator Cath Bird said the Plan was a wonderful opportunity to develop a community-led approach to suicide prevention.
“There is a real groundswell of support across the Lismore community to implement practical suicide prevention measures. The project funds, among other things, will go towards a range of evidence-based training opportunities to better equip our community to recognise people who may be at risk of suicide; and in offering them the appropriate support.”
For interviews contact: Julie Sturgess on 6618 5402 and Cath Bird on 0400 709 101. For more information call Janet Grist on 0402 244 419.
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Contact for media enquiries
Janet Grist
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 0402 244 419
Cath Bird
Phone: 0400 709 101
Julie Sturgess
Phone: (02) 6618 5402