Suicide cluster: 14 new deaths devastate Kiama, Illawarra region
Premier Gladys Berejiklian has urged anyone suffering from mental health problems to “make sure you talk to someone” in response to revelations in The Sunday Telegraph that seven people in the seaside community Kiama have taken their own life in as many weeks. One of them, Darcy Bond (pictured) was just 22.
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Premier Gladys Berejiklian has urged anyone suffering from mental health problems to “make sure you talk to someone” in response to revelations in The Sunday Telegraph that seven people in Kiama have taken their own life in as many weeks.
Ms Berejiklian said everyone should know that “you can get help if you need it”.
“The NSW government is extremely concerned about the impacts on mental health during this time”, the Premier said today.
“All of us are struggling with COVID. Please make sure you talk to someone. If you’re having challenges, please make sure you know that you can get help if you need it,” she said.
Ms Berejiklian said the government has made sure students are being supported in their communities.
“But we also know that, unfortunately, not everybody comes forward to say they’re struggling,” she said.
The spate of suicides has left town leaders grappling with ways to hold the cluster at bay.
From a 14-year-old schoolboy, to a uni student and his mate, a pilates instructor in her 30s, to a dad of two primary school students, the cluster hasn’t discriminated.
Darcy Bond, of Kiama, was just 22 years old when he suicided recently.
The shocking statistic doubles to 14 suicides in recent weeks when you incorporate the entire Illawarra region, according to medical sources. The new cluster follows nine student deaths in Sydney.
Kiama’s local council, mental health organisations and everyday mums and dads have rallied together to find ways to end the devastation.
Headspace has prioritised counselling appointments for young grieving locals in Kiama and nearby townships of Jamberoo and Gerringong.
Pop-up drop-in centres have opened in outlying areas.
And Gerringong has turned yellow, with ribbons, bonbons and crochet lining the streets, to encourage conversation about suicide.
As The Sunday Telegraph lobbies for better support and resources for school students dealing with mental health issues, the Kiama Council has played its part, moving a motion in August to support the community however they could.
Kiama Council mayor Mark Honey said there was no quick fix to stop the suicides.
“There is no simple answer, no matter who you talk to. The answer is within the community and the community has to address the problem,” Mr Honey said.
Melissa Andrews, who coordinates a youth drop-in centre for Kiama Council, said drug and alcohol abuse and bullying was a big problem among 12-25-year-olds.
“We’re seeing (young people) managing drug and alcohol issues. Bullying and cyber-bullying has been a big one,” Ms Andrews said.
She said unemployment, homelessness and managing relationships were also prevalent. The number of people seeking help had spiked since the centre reopened after the forced closure in March during the COVID lockdown.
“Since we reopened, the number of drop-ins has really increased,” Ms Andrews said.
“Dealing with so much grief and loss, we’ve really noticed they’ve needed that space to not necessarily just come and grieve, which they can do, but also just have a space to be young people.”
Police attended 80 mental health related incidents in the Lake Illawarra Police District in July, including four suicides and five attempted suicides, according to statistics supplied to The Sunday Telegraph.
Four women, aged 16, 17 and two 20-year-olds, attempted suicide, as well as one 43-year-old man.
Community group Gezza Cares was formed in response to the scourge, to encourage conversation around suicide and remove the taboo.
Committee member Lincoln Piper, who tried to take his life a decade ago, is happy he lived to tell the tale.
“It’s pretty hard to see anything other than what you’re feeling that moment. It’s so taboo and such a scary topic. You end up in your own world,” he said.
“I was so broken. So in came the drugs and alcohol and the spiral downwards.”
Mr Piper said it had been a “very sombre” time for the south coast community.
“The suicides really affected everyone. It was horrific. Really horrific,” Mr Piper said.
“The community came together and said we need to do something. This had to change.”
The group was behind the yellow street displays along the main street of Gerringong.
“The idea behind the yellow is to get people talking. We need to be talking, you can’t be afraid to talk to your mates or your kids,” Mr Piper said.
Local businesses have offered their counselling services for free, men’s and women’s talking groups have formed and individuals are raising money. Brian Boulton, chairman of the Illawarra Suicide Prevention and Awareness Network, said the best thing to say to someone suicidal was: “I don’t want you to die. Would you let me help you get help?”
“Accept they feel that way. Not arguing why they shouldn’t because they’ll always have an answer for that.”