Men, we need to talk about suicide

A successful suicide prevention program is coming to an NQ town and they need everyday, local men to put their hands up and become ambassadors.

Faith Movigliatti stands in the Charters Towers cemetery. As a senior HR adviser at Minjar Gold and former Burdekin Community Association worker, she's seen the impact of suicide in the region first hand.

A suicide prevention program is coming to Charters Towers and they need ambassadors.

‘Real Mates Talk’ has experienced years of success in Mackay, Whitsunday and Isaac.

Last year, Queensland suicide rates spiked and Greater Townsville grew to become the second deadliest region in the state.

Faith Movigliatti knows these statistic all too well.

As a senior HR adviser at Minjar Gold and a former Burdekin Community Association worker, she’s seen the impacts of suicide first hand.

Standing in the Charters Towers cemetery, she spoke about a topic many shield away from.

“My son’s neighbour and probably my friends children are buried out here,” Ms Movigliatti said.

All died by suicide.

“The neighbour came over and had a beer with us, he seemed great and happy. Two or three hours later he took his own life and you think … how did we not know?” she said.

Charters Towers cemetery

Ms Movigliatti also lost a cousin to suicide.

“He suffered from depression for a long time. Six weeks before he died, he became happy and they actually thought he was getting better, but from the counselling episodes it became obvious he’d made the decision to end his life and it effected his mood,” she said.

“It is something we have to be aware of. It used to be a stigma (to talk about it) but mental wellness is just as important as physical wellbeing. We need to encourage people to talk about their feelings.”

Three-quarters of those who die by suicide in regional Queensland are men.

Those most at-risk of self-harm are men, those who live alone, and machinery operators/drivers.

Labourers and tradesmen were the second and third most at-risk professions.

In 2020/21, 69 men and women were hospitalised for self-harm across the Charters Towers, Ayr and Ingham region.

Of the 69 locals, the most represented age cohort was those under 24.

Ms Movigliatti said Minjar Gold employs a lot of younger men.

“It’s the younger ones who seem to struggle but on the flip side they are the ones that will get up and talk about it,” she said.

The Real Mates Talk program is being rolled out by Selectability and it is searching for everyday, local men to become volunteer ambassadors.

Selectability general manager Ryan Wiggins said ambassadors were not counsellors, but were a support system for “someone that just needs an ear” or someone struggling but doesn’t know where to go for help.

“We find a lot of people will come up and say I need help but I don’t know where to go,” Mr Wiggins said.

“Becoming an ambassador allows a person to make themselves known as someone who supports good mental health and are there for people in their sports clubs or their workplaces.” Interested in becoming an ambassadors? Email [e-mail]

Struggling with mental health? Below are some help-seeking services.

Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467

Lifeline 13 11 14

Kids Helpline 1800 551 800

Standby - Support After Suicide 0438 648 268

Originally published as Men, we need to talk about suicide