Important help for people bereaved by suicide
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- For every death by suicide it is estimated that between five and 10 people are intimately affected by the loss and many more through extended family networks, workplaces and social circles.
- People bereaved by suicide are more at risk of suicide themselves.
- On average there are more than 200 deaths by suicide in Western Australia each year, more than the road toll.
More help will be available for people bereaved by suicide as the result of two initiatives launched in Perth today.
Chairman of the Ministerial Council for Suicide Prevention Professor Sven Silburn, said the initiatives are a response to research that found that when most people bereaved by suicide try to seek help they find it difficult to navigate through both their grief and the lack of appropriate resources and services.
"Sadly suicide affects more people on average than even the road toll, yet there is much less awareness of the need to provide specific services for people that are bereaved in this way," Professor Silburn said.
"Grief after a suicide often raises many questions and feelings of guilt and helplessness in those directly affected by the loss."
The Ministerial Council together with the Centre for Developmental Health today launched a pilot service called ARBOR to provide timely counselling, peer support, support groups and referral advice.
Project co-ordinator Sharon Hillman said ARBOR (Active Response Bereavement OutReach) is unique in that it will actively reach out to those bereaved by suicide, with assistance from the State Coroner's Office of WA.
"ARBOR will make contact with people in those critical first few days of bereavement when we know that people feel particularly overwhelmed," Ms Hillman said,
"Experienced counsellors and trained peer support volunteers - people who themselves have been bereaved by suicide -- will provide initial support.
"The goal of ARBOR is to link in people bereaved by suicide with support services earlier thereby providing opportunities for support and healing that may not have otherwise been known."
The ARBOR pilot project will initially be based in the Southern suburbs of Perth and will begin operating on October 22.
The Ministerial Council today also released the new edition of its 'Information and Support Pack for people bereaved by suicide or other sudden death.'
The Information and Support pack would be available nationwide. The pack is distributed by the State Coroner's Office of WA.
The Centre for Developmental Health is an initiative of Curtin University of Technology and The Kids for Child Health Research.
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ARBOR can be reached on 9266 1029 (Duty Counsellor) Monday to Friday, 9am - 4pm.
For support after hours contact Samaritans 9381 5555, Lifeline 13 11 14, Kids Help Line 1800 55 1800