Suicide Awareness and Prevention Program

SPAN is an incorporated community group that seeks to reduce suicide within the Bendigo area by supporting community led suicide prevention action planning and the delivery of a community-based education campaign that builds a safety net in our community. This Project aims to equip community members with the skills to recognise signs that someone is at risk of suicide, engage them and provide information about where to seek help. The Project will work initially with local large employers to support the delivery of training to their workforce, thereby reaching out to multiple areas of the community in a systematic way.

The suicide rate of around 3,000 annually has increased nationally and exceeds the national road toll. For every suicide death, as many as 25 individuals will attempt suicide which translates into around 70,000.

The aim of this project is to reduce the impact of suicide in the Bendigo community. This will be achieved through coordinated and evidence informed action which is guided by the Black Dog Institute’s suicide prevention Lifespan approach; and by building a network of ‘helpers’ in our community that can respond appropriately to people in distress.
SPAN will engage a consultant to implement the training program.