Life Promotion Recap: 2024
To start off 2025, let’s take a look at where the Life Promotion and Suicide Prevention Team left off…
It was a busy couple of months for our team after hosting the ‘Changing the Narrative on Suicide’ Symposium in late October. The symposium created a space for powerful conversations about why we need to change the narrative on suicide, how we can change it, and what a new narrative could look like. Since then, we’ve connected with different communities to learn from their experiences, and work better together.
Rural Mental Health Conference in Cairns – November 2024
In the first week of November, Steph attended the Rural Mental Health Conference in Cairns, bringing together leaders from rural and remote communities across Australia. This conference highlighted the unique challenges faced by these regions, such as isolation, limited access to services, and various socio-economic pressures that can lead to distress. The standout presentation for Steph was from Myfanwy Maple of the Manning Institute, who spoke about the importance of early intervention in addressing known causes of distress. Myfanwy’s message that “an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure” resonated deeply with the team, reinforcing the need for early, proactive measures to address distress.
Queensland Alliance Mental Health AGM & 25th Anniversary Celebration – November 2024
In mid-November, Gill Townsend, our Senior Manager of Suicide Prevention, was invited to speak at the Queensland Alliance Mental Health AGM and 25-Year Celebration Soiree. The event was a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the progress made in the sector over the past quarter-century. In her speech, Gill highlighted the power of collaboration that will serve the common good of the mental health and wellbeing of all Queenslanders.
Thursday Island and the NPA – November 2024
Later in November, Nerelle and Steph travelled to Thursday Island and the Northern Peninsula Area (NPA) to conduct community engagement and explore opportunities for place-based work. During their week-long visit, they engaged with local community members, services, and organisations, learning about both the unique challenges and the strengths of the region.
One of the highlights of their visit was being invited to attend the opening ceremony of the Torres Health Building on Thursday Island. It was a beautiful ceremony where Nerelle and Steph had the chance to connect with staff, community members, and local leaders. They learned more about the vital work being done to support local people and the programs helping to connect them with much-needed support.
First Nations Collaborative – December 2024
In early December, Nerelle facilitated the First Nations Collaborative focusing on Cultural Leadership. The session featured a powerful presentation by Dr. Vanessa Lee-Ah Mat from Black Lorikeet, who explored leadership through cultural and data governance. Vanessa’s insights emphasised the importance of leading suicide prevention efforts with First Nations ways of knowing and being. The session sparked valuable discussions about culturally safe, responsive approaches and the critical role of First Nations leadership in shaping the future of suicide prevention.
Coffee & Conversations: Reflecting on the Year – December 2024
To wrap up the year, the team hosted an informal Coffee and Conversations event at Billy’s Café in Cairns. Collaborative members came together to reflect on the year’s work, share insights, and celebrate progress. This relaxed gathering provided an opportunity to connect, reflect, and set the stage for new initiatives in the year ahead.
Looking Ahead in 2025
As we approach the end of the year, our team is taking a moment to recharge and reflect on the work accomplished over the past year. We’re also excited about what lies ahead in 2025. We remain committed to pushing the boundaries of suicide prevention with the support of our collaborative members.
We look forward to continuing our work with all of you in the coming year as we explore what role we all play in suicide prevention and life promotion.
