North Burnett council to host suicide prevention workshops

The North Burnett Regional Council will engage with the world’s leading suicide prevention and intervention training company following a rise in natural disasters across the region.

The North Burnett Regional Council will engage with the world’s leading suicide prevention and intervention training company following a rise in natural disasters across the region.

According to research documented by the council, suicide rates have been shown to rise in conjunction with natural disasters, a concerning fact when coupled with federal government statistics which state “suicide rates among farmers in Australia is up to 94 per cent higher than non-farmers”.

The council will engage with LivingWorks to ensure it can provide meaningful suicide prevention and intervention training sessions for a largely farming based population.

A council spokesperson spoke on the need to make such training and support accessible to its communities as locals recovered from drought and bushfires.

“These funding arrangements are underpinned by key disaster recovery outcomes, including addressing the needs of vulnerable groups in disaster recovery and improving community capacity and capability,” they said.

“The workshops are provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, funding that was granted as a result of the 2021-22 flood events.”

The 2024 session, which will run for two days on February 27-28, from 9am-5pm in Gayndah, is not the first time the council has hosted such mindful events.

The North Burnett council will host multiple workshops aimed at suicide prevention and intervention. Picture: ANDY ROGERS

“It is essential to make training available to regional communities,” a council spokesperson said.

“Often sessions such as these are more available to larger LGA’s (Local Government Areas) with a higher populace, but for those living in regional and remote areas these can be difficult to attend due to travel time and accommodation costs.”

The workshop will cover a range of topics in relation to Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training, including “ how personal and community attitudes about suicide affect someone’s openness to seek help and your ability to provide it”.

According to LivingWorks, the workshop will also foster “willingness, confidence, and capacity to provide suicide first aid.”

While there are only 30 tickets available for the February session (which can be booked for free here), Monto will host its own session in May with further details to be announced as the date draws closer.

Farmers looking for further resources on suicide prevention and mental health support can access Taking Stock, a free online wellbeing and suicide prevention tool designed by and for Australia’s farmers here.