Kimberley Workshops Aim To Boost Mental Health Support Skills

Recognising suicide warning signs and reducing mental health stigma will be the focus of five free workshops being held in the Kimberley region in September.

Coinciding with World Suicide Prevention Day (10 September) and R U Ok Day? (11 September), these interactive sessions are being offered by leading suicide prevention agency Lifeline WA as part of a two-year partnership with Rio Tinto to address mental health challenges in regional communities.

Lifeline WA CEO, Lorna MacGregor said members of the Broome and Derby communities are being encouraged to attend these free sessions.

“Whether you’re a frontline worker, educator, volunteer or simply someone who wants to better support others, we recommend attending a session,” Ms MacGregor said.

“We want to empower people to confidently have these conversations around mental health in the Kimberley.”

“These sessions will show participants how to recognise the signs that someone is struggling, how to ask the right questions and how to offer meaningful and potentially lifesaving support.”

Lifeline WA will also be offering a ‘Here to Listen’ workshop with a Lifeline WA crisis supporter to inform people about what to expect when reaching out and how their services can help them.

Ms MacGregor said regional communities can face unique challenges around accessing mental health services, which makes local education sessions like this essential.

“This initiative is about building stronger, more informed communities where people look out for one another and know what to do when someone is struggling,” she said.

“This year’s theme for World Suicide Prevention Day is about changing the narrative around suicide and we believe these workshops are crucial in encouraging important discussions and breaking down the stigma around mental health.”

Held at the Broome Civic Centre in Broome and Derby Civic Centre in Derby, the sessions run for up to two hours and are open to anyone in the community.