Suicide prevention in the spotlight

The Rockingham and Mandurah community has been shaken as three teenage males have taken their own lives in the last fortnight, spurring Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to meet with the region’s mental health agencies and political leaders today to discuss how to prevent more tragedies.

Today, theTelegraph launches its #supportWAyouth campaign, which aims to raise awareness of the issues affecting the region’s young people and how those struggling can get help.

According to Beyond Blue, suicide is the leading cause of death in Australians aged 15-44, with an average of 2500 taking their own lives a year.

TheTelegraph understands that in 2016 eight youth from Rockingham to Harvey have taken their lives and there have been at least three attempted suicides.

Two of the deaths were students affiliated with Halls Head Community College and the third was from Safety Bay.

GP down south business development manager Eleanor Britton said it was a “tragic loss of young lives” and she was advocating for immediate action.

She hoped today’s meeting with Malcolm Turnbull would establish an action plan to fully fund its mental health program with additional crisis measures and start construction on the Peel Youth Medical Service Health Hub, as reported in theTelegraph last month.

Mrs Britton said its 3 Tier Youth Mental Health Program had supported more than 1000 high school students in the past year in a preventative and intervention capacity, but was not a crisis service.

She said the program aligned with the WA Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drug Services Plan 2015–2025, which wants in-school workshops to be rolled out in 2017 and finished in 2020.

Mandurah Response Team South officer-in-charge Senior Sergeant Rob Lewis confirmed his unit had been called to a number of “tragic” suicides this year.

City of Mandurah Councillor Dave Schumacher, who has lived with depression and ADHD his whole life, said mental illness was a real condition.

“Mental health doesn’t stop me from what I do, I still achieve things,” he said.

“Suicide is not the easy way out, getting help is.

“It takes a village to raise a child and we need to engage with them to let them know they are important, they are not alone and can get help.

“I wish the 3TYMHP was around when I was a child because it would have given me the tools to better understand mental health and who I needed to turn to.”

Member for Mandurah David Templeman said funding was needed immediately.

“I’m urging the State Government to immediately fund GP down south’s 3TYMHP, which requires $400,000 over three years to deliver services to schools in the Peel region,” he said.

“I raised this project last year in Parliament.

It’s a ready-made project that’s ready to go and be rolled out across the regions right now.”

Dr Rupert Backhouse, who works at PYMS, explained mental health was difficult for children and young adults to understand.

“Providing emotional literacy at an earlier age can mean less long-term problems, less suicide and substance abuse and more connection,” he said.

“Suicide is about feeling isolated and not of any value because they feel disconnected from their peers and society.”

Rockingham headspace manager Sherenne Foale said it was important for people instigate conservations about mental health and it was collaborating with other agencies to ensure the best outcomes for the region’s youth and their families.

Since opening two years ago, she said staff had worked with more than 1200 young people - with more than 2500 appointments this year alone.

Anyone who needs help is urged to contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800.