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Closing the intervention gap

Suicide prevention goes under the spotlight at Rockingham tomorrow when Mental Health Minister Helen Morton attends a reception at the Gary Holland Centre.

Organised by Perth South Coastal Medicare Local, the reception will recognise the commitment by organisations in the region to suicide prevention.

PSCML chief executive Peter Cook said the support from local groups and companies was important to convey the suicide prevention message in the workplace.

‘‘It’s a very important message,’’ he said.

‘‘PSCML is working with One Life Suicide Prevention on this community based program to raise awareness and build resilience in our communities under the banner ‘Suicide is Everybody’s Business’.

‘‘The diversity and local coverage of the pledge participants will make it less likely those members of the community contemplating suicide will fall through the intervention gap.’’

Organisations involved include the City of Rockingham, Star of the Sea Catholic School and Safety Bay Senior High School.

Initiatives include training staff in mental health wellbeing and suicide prevention strategies and communicating stigma reducing messages to their staff.