#NSPC24: Collective Courage. Accelerate Impact.

Recap from Stephanie Coleman (Life Promotion & Suicide Prevention FNQ).

Recently, I had the opportunity to attend the conference in the captivating city of Adelaide. The conference was jam-packed with presentations from keynote speakers, leaders, dedicated researchers and service providers delving into the complexities of suicide and suicide prevention. The theme of the conference, ‘Collective Courage. Accelerate Impact,’ closely resonated with the collective impact style approach we have been implementing at Life Promotion FNQ.

The lineup of keynote speakers was impressive, with each presentation offering valuable insights. Shane Fitzsimmons shared inspirational stories of leadership and resilience drawn from his time as Commissioner of NSW Fire and Rescue, providing a compelling reminder of the importance of strength and perseverance in the face of adversity.

Economist David McDaid challenged our thinking by exploring the economic case for suicide prevention, emphasising the need for systemic change to address suicide. Michael Gardner from the National Suicidal Prevention office also provided valuable updates on the current work being done to advance the National Suicide Prevention Strategy.

The concurrent sessions offered a diverse array of topics, with so many interesting presentations creating a challenge to choose which to attend. However, presentations such as Chris Stone's exploration of the Socio-economic and Environmental Determinants of suicide stood out for their relevance, aligning with the logic behind our approach to suicide prevention and life promotion. 

One of the more moving moments of the conference for me was when individuals with lived experience shared their stories, including Jo Langford's acknowledgement of lived experience with her heartfelt letter addressed to suicide. Jo’s address left all 700 delegates sitting in the conference all in a stilled silence as she highlighted the human impact of suicide and the importance of hearing the voices of those with lived experience in our collective efforts towards suicide prevention.

The conference also provided time for networking and connecting with fellow delegates. These interactions not only allowed the exchange of ideas and opportunities to learn from others' experiences. Along with connecting with our colleagues from Far North Queensland sparked insightful discussions about strategies that could be adapted for our region.

All in all, it was an incredible few days filled with learning and networking and plenty of note-taking of ideas, papers to read, podcasts to listen to and new people to connect with.

Looking back on the conference, I am struck by the dedication and passion of everyone working in Suicide Prevention. I have come away feeling incredibly grateful to be part of the SPCAP team and inspired to continue pushing forward in creating fresh and interconnected approaches to suicide prevention.