THE NEW FACE OF SUICIDE PREVENTION

Whitsunday Suicide Prevention Network (WSPN) are thrilled to announce a new manager, Adriel Burley, who is now employed locally and ready to actively help people through challenging times that could lead to mental health struggles.

He will work with the broader WSPN committee to create awareness of the free services available and further generate the conversation on how we can all use our own sphere of influence to protect people and prevent suicide.

Preventing Suicide Within Our Community

“We all have a sphere of influence in the community that we are part of,” said Adriel Burley.

“It could be your football club, it could be your business or teenagers of a similar age, it could be part of the farming community – connecting with us and learning what we do provides us with a sphere of influence into those communities and we need that.”

Suicide is a difficult subject to approach with someone who you may be concerned about, in fact many people are worried about saying the wrong thing and making the situation worse.

WSPN have a host of tools to help you and also offer regular free training workshops to teach residents how to best respond to concerns.

With Adriel at the helm, there will now be countless other ways that help is available in the community.

Some of his top priorities include ensuring local youth have access to the right help and trying to promote early intervention.

“There is often a perception that suicide prevention is about acute and crisis,” he said.

“But there is so much we can do in the preventative space – in the Whitsundays we have all these diverse industries here with varying pressures so we need to be pre-emptive here.

“Whether it be natural disasters, economic change or homelessness – there are all sorts of societal pressures on why people come into crisis and we can help the community prepare for that so it actually supports itself.”

WSPN Patron and Member for Whitsunday Amanda Camm MP said Adriel represents an invaluable support mechanism.

“I think he is going to be a very valuable resource for the community to connect and tap in with,” she said.

“It will also help the network to focus on the direction and its strategies - to have someone who is dedicated to the community, to establish its presence more and to have a point of contact will be invaluable.”

Volunteer Matt Stokes said that securing Adriel as a Manager means that the committee, which is largely made up of local business owners, have a man on the ground to help.

“We were a bunch of exhausted business owners who didn’t have much time but now Adriel’s enthusiasm is lifting the committee and with his help we can do so much more,” said Matt.

“I’m time poor but I give as much as I can, and I would encourage others to come onto the committee and help where they can too.”

WSPN provide a range of local services which include free counselling for families affected by suicide, free weekly breathing classes in Bowen and Airlie Beach, and direct links to other services that can help with mental health.

“We are a safety net for the community,” said Adriel.

If this article has raised any issues for you call Lifeline on 131114

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Caption: WSPN Manager Adriel Burley, WSPN Patron and Member for Whitsunday Amanda Camm MP, WSPN volunteer Matt Stokes, WSPN Treasurer Paul Burke and WSPN volunteer Di Fleetwood. Photo credit: Norina Jane

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