Supporting our communities – Central Australian Suicide Prevention Forum 2024

“Supporting our communities” was the theme of the 2-day Central Australian Suicide Prevention Forum held at the Alice Springs Desert Park on Tuesday 21 and Wednesday 22 May.

The forum brought together a diverse group of people with an interest in suicide prevention including people working in mental health and community service provision, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members and people with a lived or living experience of suicide and mental health challenges.

The forum provided the space to share information and discuss how we can collectively work towards reducing suicide and better supporting people in crisis.

More than 70 people attended and heard from a range of speakers including:
• Pip Williams – Lived Experience Advocate and Peer Support Worker
• Aunty’s Place – Karen Moyle, Perfectly Imperfect Consulting
• Post Traumatic Growth – Lidia Di Lembo, Sabrina’s Reach For Life
• Becoming more culturally responsive and trauma informed – Rosie Schubert, Ngarla Kunoth Monks, AMSANT
• Central Australia Suicide Prevention Training Program – Lynn Moloney, Linda Carpenter, MHACA
• Suicide Prevention in the Northern Territory – Shaun Wilson, NT Health
• TRISP Initiatives – Simon Casey, NTPHN
• NT Chief Psychiatrist – David Mitchell
• Culture Care Connect – Jesyjames Carr, Reece Cossar, Central Australian Aboriginal Congress
• 13 YARN – Marjorie Anderson
• Headspace Alice Springs – Dr Sophie Hunt, Jessica McAdam
• Alison Cunynghame – Lived Experience Advocate
• Guided meditation with NPY Women’s Council

There were also two panels as part of the event: ‘Supporting First Nation’s Lived Experiences’ and ‘Supporting People and Families in Crisis’.

Panellists were asked:
• How do we collectively get better at listening and incorporating the lived experiences of First Nations people?
• What do you think are some of the biggest pressures for families when it comes to supporting a family member experiencing a mental health crisis?
• How can we better support people living with neurodiversity when they seek support?
• We work in a system that has many challenges – within these limitations what do you think are simple things that service providers can do to improve people’s experiences of seeking support?
• We know that men are a high-risk group for suicide, how can we better support men in our community?

On the second day, attendees engaged in a full-day workshop with Rosemary Wanganeen, founder of the Healing Centre for Griefology. The workshop supported service providers and attendees to have a deeper and more meaningful understanding of why many Aboriginal people can’t, don’t or wont’ assess mainstream services.

Rosemary states as part of the workshop, “I just want to leave a mainstream service with my Aboriginal identity intact.”

Attendees learnt about suppressed loss and grief as an integral factor that can lead to further life challenges, and how people can be supported to undertake a healing journey.

The event was organised by the Mental Health Association of Central Australia (MHACA) with the support of Central Australian Aboriginal Congress, Wesley Mission, and the Northern Territory Government.

If you would like to join the Central Australia Life Promotion Network, a local suicide prevention network that has been operating in Central Australia since 1999, please email healthpromotion@mhaca.org.au

Links for article

Headspace Alice Springs
https://headspace.org.au/headspace-centres/alice-springs/

Culture Care Connect – Central Australian Aboriginal Congress
https://www.caac.org.au/service/social-and-cultural-support/

Lidia Di Lembo – Sabrina’s Reach for Life
https://sabrinasreach4life.com.au/

NPY Women’s Council Meditations
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4xLMeYElEwUte3r2HDoHDw

The Healing Centre for Griefology – Rosemary Wanganeen
https://lossandgrief.com.au/

AMSANT
https://www.amsant.org.au/damulgurra/

CASPT – MHACA
https://www.mhaca.org.au/suicidepreventiontraining/

NTG Suicide Prevention
https://health.nt.gov.au/governance-strategies-committees/nt-health-strategies/suicide-prevention-strategy-review

NTPHN
https://ntphn.org.au/programs/suicide-prevention/

13 YARN
https://www.13yarn.org.au/

Perfectly Imperfect Consulting
https://www.perfectlyimperfect.consulting/

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Mental Health Association Central Australia
1 day ago
Mental Health Association Central Australia

MHACA launched new Living Skills animations, a great resource to help people build confidence in everyday living.

The Living Skills Project, developed by MHACA and Community Housing Central Australia (CHCA), uses real community stories to help people build skills to be able to maintain their tenancy contracts.

The animations cover practical topics including:

• Being a strong tenant
• Getting ready for a housing inspection
• Being a good neighbour and managing visitors
• Money skills
• Keeping your mind and body strong

Staff and participants enjoyed the first screening of the animations, a fun game of Living Skills bingo with prizes and a shared lunch catered by Akeyulerre Healing Centre.

To learn more about the Living Skills Project, contact the Living Skills team on 0448 997 822 or email livingskills@mhaca.org.au.

#livingskills #alicesprings #community #wellbeing #TenancySkills #Mhaca #CHCA ... See MoreSee Less

MHACA launched new Living Skills animations, a great resource to help people build confidence in everyday living. The Living Skills Project, developed by MHACA and Community Housing Central Australia (CHCA), uses real community stories to help people build skills to be able to maintain their tenancy contracts. The animations cover practical topics including: • Being a strong tenant • Getting ready for a housing inspection • Being a good neighbour and managing visitors • Money skills • Keeping your mind and body strong Staff and participants enjoyed the first screening of the animations, a fun game of Living Skills bingo with prizes and a shared lunch catered by Akeyulerre Healing Centre. To learn more about the Living Skills Project, contact the Living Skills team on 0448 997 822 or email livingskills@mhaca.org.au. #LivingSkills #AliceSprings #Community #Wellbeing #TenancySkills #MHACA #CHCAImage attachmentImage attachment
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Mental Health Association Central Australia is with AusAlert.
4 days ago
Mental Health Association Central Australia

📢 National AusAlert Test on Monday 27 July

A nationwide test of the new AusAlert emergency warning system is scheduled for MONDAY 27 JULY 2026 at 1:30pm NT time.

AusAlert is the new national emergency warning system that will send alerts to compatible mobile phones, tablets and smart watches during emergencies.

⚠️ Please be aware: During the test, compatible devices will play a loud siren-like sound for around 10 seconds, even if your phone is on silent or do not disturb mode.

For many people, particularly those with sensory sensitivities or other conditions affected by loud noises, experiencing violence, coercive control, trauma or living in unsafe environments, unexpected alerts like this can be distressing or place them at risk.

If you or someone you support may be affected, consider:

• Turning devices off or switching to aeroplane mode before the scheduled test time
• Leaving devices off for at least one hour
• Talking through a safety plan in advance if needed

We also encourage workers, carers and support people to familiarise themselves with how these alerts function, especially when supporting people in high-risk or sensitive situations.

The alert will clearly state that it is only a test, and you do not need to do anything if you receive it.

For more information, including an example of the alert sound and accessible resources, visit: ausalert.gov.au

#ausalert #EmergencyPreparedness #NT ... See MoreSee Less

📢 National AusAlert Test on Monday 27 July A nationwide test of the new AusAlert emergency warning system is scheduled for MONDAY 27 JULY 2026 at 1:30pm NT time. AusAlert is the new national emergency warning system that will send alerts to compatible mobile phones, tablets and smart watches during emergencies. ⚠️ Please be aware: During the test, compatible devices will play a loud siren-like sound for around 10 seconds, even if your phone is on silent or do not disturb mode. For many people, particularly those with sensory sensitivities or other conditions affected by loud noises, experiencing violence, coercive control, trauma or living in unsafe environments, unexpected alerts like this can be distressing or place them at risk. If you or someone you support may be affected, consider: • Turning devices off or switching to aeroplane mode before the scheduled test time • Leaving devices off for at least one hour • Talking through a safety plan in advance if needed We also encourage workers, carers and support people to familiarise themselves with how these alerts function, especially when supporting people in high-risk or sensitive situations. The alert will clearly state that it is only a test, and you do not need to do anything if you receive it. For more information, including an example of the alert sound and accessible resources, visit: ausalert.gov.au #AusAlert #EmergencyPreparedness #NT
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