Funding for mental health first-aid

Three Pilbara organisations have received grants to conduct suicide- prevention training among high-risk groups.

Roebourne-based Yaandina Family Centre was awarded $16,800 and Mawarnkarra Health Service received $20,000

Mission Australia’s $16,372 will go towards accrediting staff members to conduct Aboriginal mental health first-aid training.

Liberal Member for Mining and Pastoral Mark Lewis said the funding would teach people to identify when someone needed help and to know what to do to keep that person safe.

“The grants will strengthen capacity of our community to help reduce the incidence of suicide, especially among groups that are particularly vulnerable,” he said.

“Suicide prevention is a priority for our community and these grants will allow the organisations to help prevent this horrendous loss of life and suffering.” Mental Health Minister Andrea Mitchell said the funding would target groups such as Aboriginal communities, people in regional areas, LGBTI populations, young people and culturally and linguistically diverse populations.

“This funding will make a significant contribution to strengthening the capacity of communities to help reduce the incidence of suicide, especially among groups that are particularly vulnerable,” she said. Thirty applications for suicide prevention received funding under the grants round, enabling training such as mental health first aid, Aboriginal mental health first aid, safeTALK, Opening Closets and ASIST to be conducted.

Seven Kimberley, two Goldfields, five Wheatbelt and 10 metropolitan Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal programs received funding.

“These grants include $296,521 for Aboriginal communities and service providers to train people to support family, friends and community members to recognise and help people who may be experiencing a mental health emergency or are having suicidal thoughts,” Ms Mitchell said.

“The remaining $264,311 has been awarded for suicide prevention training for other high-risk groups.”