Community Minds For Suicide Prevention Whitsunday Suicide Prevention Network

Since its inception as a leading counselling and support organisation, Whitsunday Suicide Prevention Network has stood by it’s community grounded roots, of being present for every single resident and community member in the Whitsundays region, and providing support in every facet of mental health.

Established in 2016, Whitsunday Suicide Prevention Network (WSPN) aims to be a haven for anyone who is struggling with mental health, by removing stigma, raising awareness, and opening the opportunity for free and productive conversation.

With the Whitsundays recognised as being above state and national average in suicide number and over the years, WSPN, as an organisation, has grown and developed into the hub that it is today, so support mental health and suicide prevention, much of the Whitsundays community have gotten behind the organisation.

“Community support and donations assists us to continue those in our community who need the help,” explained Mel Turner, Committee Member and Secretary of Whitsunday Suicide Prevention Network.

“And for all the support, we are grateful.”

Just in 2023, Lions Club of the Whitsundays pledged a portion of proceeds from their annual Lions Golf Day, gifting WSPN with $4,000 to fund counselling services, including post-suicide resilience counselling.

Horsepower Heroes, a not-for-profit organisation that raises awareness and funds for mental health in the Whitsunday region, gifted close to over $10,000 across the year, from their annual Horsepower Heroes Day and other events.

Fight Night, organised and hosted by PCYC Whitsundays named WSPN a beneficiary of the event, and Blokes in Business, a men’s group who regularly meet, continue to donate to WSPN, in order to help fund the array of services offered.

“It’s amazing the support we are gifted from the community, which we invest back into the community to support mental health, suicide prevention, and counselling,” Ms Turner said.

For those seeking assistance or support, here are just a small sample of the services available from Whitsunday Suicide Prevention Network:

Aided by community support, WSPN have been able to further develop and engage with the community.

Yearly, WSPN host and fund the b kinder Programs in the region’s schools, to promote kindness. WSPN also hosts b kinder Day, on June 22, in the region’s schools, to further establish the need for kindness, connection, inclusivity and positivity.

WSPN have also partnered with the North Queensland Toyota Cowboys to deliver the Resilience Project across the region’s early learning centres and schools. The Resilience Project aims to deliver positive mental health strategies to prevent mental ill-health and build young people’s capacity to deal with adversity and it’s been proven to work.

In recent years alone, WSPN have been able to donate $14,000 for The Resilience Project, to support the introduction of the Early Years Program into the region's early learning centres.  

“With our early year’s intervention programs, we are investing back into our region’s schools and our kids,” Ms Turner said.

“We fund and offer these programs to the schools at no cost, which is allowing amazing resources to be accessible for our kids.”

Breathwork is paramount to aiding and supporting people through the challenges they face daily, with WSPN hosting Breathwork Sessions across the region for everyone in the community.

“Using our facilitators, we can offer breathwork sessions free for the community,” said Ms Turner.

Breathwork has been identified to help connect the body and mind, reduce stress, anxiety, and depression.

Every year, in September, WSPN host a memorial service, for those lost due to suicide. This community memorial is a way for people impacted by suicide to come together, connect and reconnect in the spirit of hope, comfort, and inspiration. This annual community memorial aligns with World Suicide Prevention Day and promotes group connection and healing following a loved one’s suicide.

WSPN offer free counselling for post-suicide resilience, for loved ones and others impacted by a recent suicide or suicide attempt. These counselling services are free for recipients, funded by WSPN.

“If we are aware, we can contact the individual, or the Police may forward our contacts onto the loved ones,” Ms Turner explained.

“Or they can directly reach out and contact us, so we can begin to assist them.”

Whitsunday Suicide Prevention Network also offers free Suicide Prevention Training, delivered by Community Response to Eliminate Suicide (CORES). These free training sessions are funded by WSPN and allow community members to be trained and educated on suicide behaviours, such as signs to recognise, how to support, and how to promote help-seeking behaviours.

The training also provides self-care strategies, in order to look after themselves.

“The Suicide Prevention Training is also faucet of suicide prevention that we deliver to the community,” explained Ms Turner.

“We reinvest back into the community to fund and deliver this training, reinvesting into mental health, suicide prevention and support. By making this training free and accessible to the community, we are getting invaluable knowledge and education into the community.”

To learn more about Whitsunday Suicide Prevention Network, to donate, and to access their services, visit their website https://wspn.org.au/, or their Facebook page.

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Lions Club of Whitsundays donation to WSPN, from their annual Charity Golf Day

Horsepower Heroes supporting WPSN

Blokes in Business enjoying a beer and donating to WSPN. Photos supplied