The newly established Southern Downs Suicide Prevention Network will be represented at this Sunday’s Stanthorpe Showgrounds (23 April) as the market’s charity of choice and people will be able to visit the stall, purchase goods, buy a raffle ticket and pick up information on mental health.
It will be the first public event for the group. The network covers the Southern Downs region and has working groups in both Warwick and Stanthorpe, so the Stanthorpe launch is following a similar style of opening to the Warwick section at the Potters Easter Craft Market.
One of the organisers, Maritta Hutley from the Granite Belt Neighbourhood Centre, said the network’s visible presence in the community would help lower the stigma around suicide and allow people to seek help if they needed it.
Businesses supporting the stall’s multi-draw raffle are Ryanie For Tyres, Percy’s Fruit Shop, Curves Warwick, Warwick RSL, Stanthorpe RSL, Jeff Horne, Ravenscroft Wines, Bec’s Remedial Massage, Wesley Mission, Waste Not/Rotary Stanthorpe, Coles Warwick, Melinda Eastwell and Wendy Melton.
People who want to help within the Southern Downs Suicide Prevention Network can join the group and also take advantage of training opportunities in the region.
Free one-day training sessions will be held on 24 May in Warwick at the Southern Downs Industry Education Association (SDIEA) and on 25 May at the Granite Belt Neighbourhood Centre. It is Wesley LifeForce Suicide Prevention Training and allows participants to have increased confidence in their ability to identify people who may be at risk of suicide and to communicate appropriately with them. The training teaches people the steps for implementing the SALT suicide intervention strategy.
