Suicide is a prominent community concern in Australia with the ABS reporting 3,128 deaths by suicide in 2017. Globally, suicide is responsible for over 800,000 deaths.

We have a responsibility – as individuals and as a society – to collectively shine a light on suicide prevention. Even one life lost to suicide is one too many.

At Holyoake, we also offer a range of suicide prevention services via our Wheatbelt Community Alcohol & Drug Service (WCADS) thanks to funding from the WA Mental Health Commission, and WA Primary Health Alliance (WAPHA).

If you or someone you care about is impacted, please call:

Emergency: 000

Rural Link: 1800 552 002

Mental Health Emergency Response Line: 1300 555 788

Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467

Lifeline: 13 11 14

Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636

Samaritans Crisis Line:  (08) 9381 5555

Crisis Care:  (08) 9223 1111

Wheatbelt Suicide Prevention Coordinator

Jo Drayton, the Wheatbelt Suicide Prevention Coordinator, is based within Holyoake WCADS, and is funded by the WA Mental Health Commission. She is coordinating a number of initiatives in the Wheatbelt:

  • Community Wellbeing Plans in Moora, Northam, Dalwallinu, Narembeen, Southern Cross and Pingelly. Plans are also in development in the Shires of Chittering and Victoria Plains.

  • Gatekeeper Suicide Prevention Training for professionals and para-professionals.

  • Workshops for community members including safeTALK, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training, Rural Minds Workshops, and Mental Health First Aid Courses.

  • Postvention initiatives that support individuals, families, friends, workplaces, sporting clubs and communities that are bereaved by suicide.

For more information on training/workshops, or how you can work collaboratively to help reduce suicide, please email JDrayton@holyoake.org.au

Click here to read Holyoake’s Yirra Koorl newsletter for useful information on prevention activities in the Wheatbelt.

Helpful resources

Learn about mental health and wellbeing, supporting others and suicide prevention at Think! Mental Health

Learn how to identify the signs that someone may be struggling: R U OK?

Starting safe conversations around suicide: #YouCanTalk campaign

Help to report about suicide safely www.mindframe.org.au

Pingelly Community Wellbeing Plan

Narembeen Community Wellbeing Plan

After Care Coordinator

This new role located within Holyoake WCADS provides a vital link between hospital and community-based services. It is funded by WAPHA via its Country WA Primary Health Network.

Christine Cornforth will now coordinate ongoing care, informed by the hospital discharge plan following a suicide attempt. She will provide social and practical support to reconnect people with their GP and other relevant community services.

This is a vital service because continuity of care during the first few days after discharge from hospital following a suicide attempt is a known high risk period for suicide.

For more information please email ccornforth@holyoake.org.au or call 08 9621 1055.