An important project is currently being undertaken in the Torres and Cape to develop a Suicide Prevention Community Action Plan for the region.

Last year, the team running this project spoke with many stakeholders who work in the Cape, including service providers, sector professionals and service personnel.

This year, the team are turning their attention to community members in the Torres and Cape to lend their voice for the development of a region-specific, Suicide Prevention Community Action Plan.

The project team are hoping to reach people who have lived experience of suicidal crisis or attempt, caring for someone through a suicide crisis, or have been bereaved by suicide to share their stories with us.

The stories of those with a lived experience will be used to directly inform the development of the Torres and Cape Community Action Plan – a community and sector endorsed path forward for coordinated suicide prevention activities across the region.

Lived experience perspective will provide critical insight for the development of this locally tailored and regionally relevant plan.

A lack of lived experience perspective will impact the success of this project which is why they need your help.

The team running this project are putting the time aside to ensure these perspectives are accurately and appropriately captured for the plan.

The project team will be available to have a yarn in an environment where you feel comfortable sharing your story – whether it be over the phone or in person.

Have you experienced a crisis involving suicide, cared for someone with suicidal ideations, or been bereaved by suicide?

Please reach out to Darren, the Project Coordinator today and yarn about your story.

Call him on 0477 794 395.

If you’re interested in catching up with Darren in person, his travel dates are as follows:

Wujal Wujal – January 31
Cooktown – February 1
Hope Vale – February 2
Coen – February 3
Laura – February 4
Weipa – February 15
Napranum – February 16
Mapoon – February 17

This article appeared in Cape York Weekly, 25 January 2022.