Friends make pact to stop island suicides after Macleay Island man’s death

He was popular and cheeky, but when Macleay Island man Kurtis Conboy died by suicide last weekend his friends made a pact to bring mental health services to the bay islands.

A bay island community says its address, isolation and overstretched mental health services have led to its high suicide rate.

Four men have killed themselves on Macleay Island in five months.

Concerned residents say the high suicide rate is because the islands, less than 20 minutes from the mainland at Redland Bay, have been ignored by authorities, leaving men with nowhere to turn.

Macleay Island man Kurtis Conboy, 26, died on Saturday, hours after leaving friends on a fun Friday night out.

One of the last photos taken of Macleay Island man Kurtis Conboy, 26, who died on Saturday.

Island resident and friend Adrienne Carswell, 41, a student paramedic said she had been out with Mr Conboy and friends hours before his death.

She said he had battled demons but had recently started work for a removal company and had a caring fiancee.

“Kurtis grew up on the island and we were firm friends and often caught up at the pub, or the local restaurant or at barbecues,” she said.

“I thought Kurtis had been quiet on Friday night, but I never expected this and it’s a dreadful shock.

“He was a good friend and cheeky and liked to stir the pot which is why we all loved him — he was ours.

“It was a normal night and we were all having a laugh but as a group, we felt we might have failed him because he didn’t reach out to us.

“Something needs to be done especially on the islands which are not that far from the mainland but might as well be another world as they have a completely different rural lifestyle.”

Island resident and student paramedic Adrienne Carswell was a firm friend of Kurtis Conboy and wants to stop island suicides.

Ms Carswell said she knew two other Macleay Island men who had died by suicide this year and all their deaths were unexpected as each man had been popular and all with many friends.

James Allen, 43, died in February and Brendan Faneco died in April.

A fourth man took his life in May.

About 3000 Australians die from suicide each year and 65,000 try.

However, grimly, only half the people who attempt to take their own lives in the country have access to ongoing care after leaving hospital.

Russell Island resident Rose Smith is organising an island forum and has invited mental health experts, politicians and residents.

She said many islanders with mental health illnesses did not make it to hospital and were not connected to any support services.

Island medical services were stretched to the maximum and there was often up to three months’ waiting time to get in to see one of the two island psychologists.

“We want the forum to start a process of promoting a change for men to be able to ask for help about depression or suicidal thoughts,” Ms Carter-Smith said.

“I believe it goes back to adolescence, where boys are not taught about finances, alcohol or relationships yet they are educated on maths, woodwork, sports and English.

“How are young men expected to cope with life when it comes to providing for their families, experiencing marriage breakups or turning to drinking to console themselves.

“We are still teaching our children beliefs from the 1960s so the education curriculum needs to change.

“Suicide has affected many families and perhaps as a community, we can help each other.”

Former Prime Minister Julia Gillard, now on the board of Australian mental health support organisation Beyond Blue, said a person’s address should never determine mental health outcomes.

She wants to increase access to after-care through Beyond Blue’s support program, The Way Back, which has helped more than 15,000 people since 2018.

Ms Gillard said the highest risk time for suicidal people was three months after they have had attempted to take their lives and after being released from hospital.

“It is really unfair that your access to this kind of after-care can be dependent on where you live in Australia,” she said.

“All the statistics show us that the at-risk period for trying to take your life again is within three months and that’s the critical support window.”

The community will gather on Wednesday to pay their respects to Mr Conboy and his family.

Mr Conboy will be privately cremated on Wednesday.

Originally published as Friends make pact to stop island suicides after Macleay Island man’s death