SWAN Hill resident Sue Turner will walk from Riverside Park to the wetland area this Sunday to remember her son Daniel and others in the community who lost their lives to suicide.
“I lost my son in 2022, and that’s why I have been so involved in raising awareness about suicide prevention,” Ms Turner said.
“But anyone is welcome to join the walk and it will be better if we can get more people talking about mental health.”
While the community has rallied in support of Ms Turner and her family during the most difficult time of her life, Ms Turner said mental health was an issue that locals must not sweep under the rug.
“Daniel was struggling with his mental health and tried to seek help,” she said.
“It’s the worst thing I’ve gone through.”
“But it’s not just me, a lot of people have been affected by suicide in Swan Hill.”
World Suicide Prevention Day is September 10 each year.
Australian Bureau of Statistics data reported in 2022 that about nine Australians died by suicide every day, which is double the number of people dying in road accidents.
There were 35 deaths by suicide in the Swan Hill region from 2018 to 2022, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
In 2022, Swan Hill local Ruth Abraham started a petition for a 24-hour crisis centre after losing her son Kurk. The petition received more than 1000 signatures.
In 2023 Ms Turner’s daughter Bec Martin created Spark, a local initiative to raise awareness for mental health, and to highlight the mental health support available in Swan Hill in the absence of a 24-hour crisis centre.
“Swan Hill doesn’t have a 24-hour crisis centre and I know a lot of people are pushing for this but, in the meantime, we need to promote what is available in Swan Hill,” Ms Martin wrote on Spark’s Facebook page.
“So if you have a friend, work colleague or loved one in dire straits, you can help them get the help they need.”
Last year, Ms Turner and her daughter worked with local organisations to hold an event at Riverside Park that raised $8937 for local mental health services.
The money raised last year helped 20 local people to complete a mental health first aid course organised by Swan Hill District Health for free.
An upcoming free safeTALK half-day training course in suicide alertness skills hosted by SHDH Counselling still has spaces available.
Participants will be educated on steps to prevent suicide, such as how to talk to people about suicide, and connecting them to life-saving resources.
“Everyone that has done the mental health courses so far, have told me nothing but positive things about it,” Ms Turner said.
Ms Turner said the community coming together last year made this possible.
“Everyone has been so generous, and the support was very overwhelming,” she said.
Ms Turner said parents affected by suicide in the community would walk with her on Sunday.
“Meeting people who have gone through the same thing as I have will be comforting, knowing we can support each other,” she said.
The memorial walk on Sunday will feature coffee and live music at the park after the walk from the Swan Hill Ukulele Group.
Ms Turner, a local musician, will perform covers with her group Salt N Pepper.
“We hope lots of people can attend, even though we’re not raising money on the day,” she said.
“We have to let people know that we’re there for people that are struggling, and that there is help.”
Anyone needing assistance can call:
Triage on 1300 363 788
SHDH emergency department on 5033 9321 or phone 000
Lifeline on 13 11 14
Grief Line on 1300 845 745
DirectLine on 1800 888 236 for drug and alcohol assistance
Headspace Swan Hill on 4010 7100 for free mental-health support for people under 25
To register for a safeTALK half-day suicide alertness skills course on October 15 at The Grain Shed church, call 5033 9880
