Ex-SA Police officer Matt Newlands helping to fight the mental health stigma among first responders

After Matt Newlands was sacked from SA Police for taking a baseball bat, his life took a dark downward spiral. That experience may now save others.

Suicide Prevention Council members Wathnak Vy, Matt Newlands and David Boots. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Brenton Edwards

Matt Newlands had wanted to be a police officer since he was four years old.

But after a decade on the frontline, he was depressed, suicidal and unemployed after being fired for keeping – of all things – a baseball bat seized while on the job.

Now the 37-year-old is working to challenge the idea that being a first responder means to “be stoic and not say anything and keep rocking up to work”.

Mr Newlands said he knew of at least three South Australian police officers who had died by suicide since Christmas. He is among 15 members of the state’s newly created Suicide Prevention Council and is sharing his story as part of The Advertiser’s Can We Talk mental health campaign.

Over his decade as a police officer Mr Newlands said the “chronic stress” of the role and “the accumulation of traumatic experiences” eroded his mental health.

In 2013 he lost a friend and fellow police officer to suicide.

By 2015 he was hardly sleeping and felt “disconnected” from the reason he had joined the force – to help others.

“I did start to notice things weren’t quite right with me but I couldn’t put my finger on what was wrong,” he said. He went to a doctor and was referred to a psychologist, who diagnosed him with depression and PTSD.

“That’s when a lot of the thoughts of ‘What’s the point of any of this’ started to creep in,” he said.

However, Mr Newlands didn’t tell his employer because he feared “they would take my gun, take my badge”.

In 2015 he was arrested after a colleague reported that he kept the seized baseball bat. He was suspended and fired in 2016.

“It’s only because of the support of my wife Allira and having (daughter) Grace that there was a purpose … to keep me alive,” he said.

“I’d never discourage people from joining, we need people on the frontline, but we also need to understand the challenges and how we can support people.”

Former teacher and principal David Boots has also joined the council, and is a strong advocate for young LGBTIQ+ people.

He recounted the story of a teen who took his life after he came out to his parents and was kicked out of home.

“Most of the times that people are starting to think about taking their own life something has gone wrong in their life and they don’t know how to sort it out,” said Mr Boots, who lives in Wallaroo and has chaired the SOS Copper Coast Suicide Prevention Network for six years.

Another six officials will advise the council, including the state’s Chief Public Health Officer and Psychiatrist, and the Commissioners for Aboriginal Engagement, Children and Young People and Aboriginal Children and Young People.

Health Minister Chris Picton said the “wide range” of experience of those on the panel would enable them to “deliver meaningful change”.

“Tragically, many South Australians have been affected by suicide in some way, which is devastating for families, friends and the wider community,” Mr Picton said.

The phone call that devastated Nadia Clancy

By Lauren Novak

Nadia Clancy was campaigning ahead of the March state election when she received a devastating phone call.

The caller rang to break the news that a mutual friend had died by suicide.

“In my friend’s case she had had mental health challenges for a number of years,” Ms Clancy said of the mother-of-one who had lived interstate.

“She was so fierce and loving, one of the best people. She was warm and compassionate. She was loved by lots and lots of people.”

Labor MP and Premier’s Advocate for Suicide Prevention Nadia Clancy. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Ms Clancy, the first-term MP for Elder, has been appointed the Premier’s Advocate for Suicide Prevention and chairs the new Suicide Prevention Council, which met for the first time in September. Its first priority will be to finalise SA’s new Suicide Prevention Plan, to co-ordinate government and community efforts.

In her new role, Ms Clancy has travelled to the Riverland, Clare and Port Lincoln and will soon visit Kangaroo Island.

She has begun speaking with young South Australians about their mental health concerns and says many expressed “how stressed they were about school”.

“Something else that comes up a lot is the importance of connection,” she said.

“Just start talking. Tell someone. You don’t need to know what you’re going to say next but if you just say that first sentence … you can actually start finding ways to get help.

“It’s also important for young people who might have that information disclosed to them to be able to then talk to someone they trust.”