Banana Shire residents keep CALM and learn suicide intervention skills

Banana Shire residents keep CALM and learn suicide intervention skills

by | Apr 10, 2019 | Uncategorised

Over the weekend, members of the Banana Shire community came together to learn how to have life saving conversations with someone who may be contemplating suicide.

It was a CALM one-day workshop delivered by CQRH’s Project Officer, Deirdre Fagan-Pagliano, and Jillian Mouzouris, who owns GrassRoots Living Room in Biloela. Both women generously volunteered their time to deliver the free training.

CALM stands for Connect, Ask, Listen and Monitor. It’s an evidence-based, easy to implement suicide intervention program developed in Australia. It outlines how to help a person find hope and empower them to change their thinking and plan for a future.

I attended the workshop and, though it was confronting at times, it was a powerful experience which has already helped me connect and listen to the people in my life. We were taught how to ask questions and really encourage someone in pain to talk about and share that pain, then how to empower them to grab hold of hope. I am now confident I can talk to someone who is considering ending their life and conduct a positive intervention. It is also clear to me just how important this training is. I firmly believe that this training will save lives and I encourage everyone to participate in something like this.

The workshop was also met with overwhelmingly positive feedback from the other participants.

“Great practical training that empowers people to have potentially life-saving conversations and myth busting the stigmas around suicide.” Fiona Hayward

“Practical application, clear guidelines!! Awesome training.” Mayuri Gosalina

Thanks to the funding CQRH received from the Queensland Government’s TRIAC Fund and the Banana Shire Council as well as donations from local businesses: First National Real Estate Biloela, Westpac Biloela and the Silo Motor Inn, fourteen local community members were trained to deliver this program to the Banana Shire. There are several workshops already being planned, you can find out more about them here. CQRH would also like to encourage workplaces, organisations, sporting groups or even social groups who would like to participate in this training to contact us.

Remember, preventing suicide is everyone’s business.

For help or information call Lifeline: 13 11 14, Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467, beyondblue: 1300 22 4636.

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Locals show support for suicide prevention

Locals show support for suicide prevention

by | Feb 26, 2019 | Uncategorised

Fourteen residents from across Banana Shire recently attended a course to become a trainer of a one day Australian Suicide prevention intervention program.

Central Queensland Rural Health Chief Executive officer Sandra Corfield said the three day course will teach participants how to intervene when somebody may be at risk of suicide and more importantly spread the skills to help others.

“Preventing suicide is everyone’s business. The great thing about this training is that the 14 local participants will deliver the one day suicide intervention program throughout next year in their local towns and communities, “Ms Corfield said.

“Delivering suicide prevention training is our way of ensuring as many people as possible can recognise and respond to suicidality.

“Our participants range from a local barber and retail staff to a school guidance officer and local social worker.

“It is great that so many locals are willing to give up their time to help look after their local community,” she said.

The three day Train the Trainer (T4T) CALM workshop is funded by the Queensland Government’s TRIAC Fund. It will provide participants with the skills, knowledge and resources to help recognise the subtle warning signs somebody may be at risk, open up a conversation in a comfortable and safe manner, help the person reconnect with their strengths and hold their hope and lastly to identify referral pathways and develop a meaningful safety plan.

CALM is an evidence-informed program that ensures that all participants understand the theories, principles and models that underpin CALM; fully grasp and be able to demonstrate their ability to explain and use the CALM model of intervention and gain confidence in their ability to competently deliver the one day program to their communities.

Central Queensland Rural Health is working with communities across the region to reduce suicide.

The training  will increase community confidence to respond to people in pain and help them to stay safe.

The participants from Moura, Biloela, Baralaba and Theodore are willing to travel across the shire to deliver this essential training.

We encourage groups or individuals interested in training in 2019 to contact Angie from Central Queensland Rural Health by email angie.horchner@cqrdgp.com.au or phone 4992 1040

Local residents can complete free online suicide prevention training by clicking here.

For help or information call Lifeline: 13 11 14, Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467, beyondblue: 1300 22 4636.

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