Services Information

Goldfields Region of Western Australia

Another one of our community funding grant recipients is Mates 4 Mates Goldfields. A volunteer organisation operating on the Esperence WA region, Mates 4 Mates Goldfields works to get information about depression and suicide prevention out into the community across the region to help break down negative stigma, give people more information about mental health, and steer people in the right direction to get help. They also run the Living Works Safe TALK workshops to equip people with more knowledge about face to face suicide prevention.

The funding we provided has gone to produce and distribute information (as shown) on various services available in the local area. This one shown is just one of four different versions tailored to different geographical areas including Esperance, Kalgoorlie, Leonora and Norseman. These will be in the form of fridge magnets, making them a great practical resource for people.

We look forward to hearing more from Mates 4 Mates. It sounds like they're doing some really good practical work aimed at suicide prevention in the community.

Marcus Mission - suicide prevention initiative

Marcus Mission is a community, volunteer organisation, that aims to reduce the risk of suicide for young men aged 18-44 years through three main initiatives: skill building for young men, suicide prevention training, and the development of a volunteer mentor network. The program is initially targeting the Gold Coast and Toowoomba regions, with a view to expanding in the future.

“Suicide is a very complex issue, and it requires a whole-of-community approach,” says Glen Wallwork, Suicide Prevention Manager with Wesley Mission Queensland. “With this in mind, we work not only with those at risk of suicide, but everyone around them: their families, friends, networks, and local community groups to build skills, knowledge, resources, and the capacity to tackle this issue.

“Recent studies have highlighted the need for young men to build resilience, negotiate conflict and manage relationship challenges. Supporting young men to develop these skills will assist them to better manage stressful life events that can increase risk of suicide. Using this and other, current evidence-based research, we have designed a range of prevention activities and initiatives to help young men work through what they’re experiencing.”

Black Dog Ride has directed funds to support the volunteer mentoring program. Trained volunteer mentors connect with men experiencing situational distress, such as issues with relationships, work or money. They will meet face-to-face for up to two hours a week for twelve months to build connections, enhance their strengths and develop practical strategies to move forward.