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tagedy struck the Mid-North Coast at the dawn of this
New Year. At tVauchope, just outside of Port Macquarie,
two young people took their own lives and a third attempte d
suicide. Patricia Herbert, CAPA RnR Committee
Member, said that this had had a wide-reaching impact
on the greater Port Macquarie community, with two of
the young people being related to each other. While not
personally or professionally involved herself, Trish said
that the shock and distress were felt as a community. This
is what happens in regional areas-bonds are ciose, and
everyone feels events together.
Following these er'ents, there have been several
discussions in the media about Youth Suicide and the role
of the community in acknowledging and helping out when
things aren't okay. In an ABC Mid North Coast Radio
segment LifeMatters Program Coordinator for Mid-
Coast Lifeline Lee-Ann Foord said that the community
is absolutely devastated and wondering what they can do.
In collaboration with the Port Macquarie -Hastings
Suicide Prevention Network, two Community Forums
were held for all community members to attend. At the
forums, a panel of experts included Professor Rick van
der Zwan, from Southern Cross University; Dr Deborah
Hennessey, a Clinical Psychologist with Port Macquarie
Base Hospital; Catherine Vaara, CEO of Lifeline Mid
Coast; and Amy Schwarze, Youth Worker in the Youth
Mental Health First Aid Program. Local volunteer Lifeline
Counsellors were also pres€nt to support community
members at the forum.
Points raised included the 'taboo' nature of discussions
relating to suicide, and also the damaging effects of
rumours. Social ne tworking sites, such as Facebook
and Twitter were also discussed including a valuable
discussion ofparenting, and good and bad aspects ofsocial
networking. Mort Shearer, Organising Group Member of
the Port Macquarie-Hastings Suicide Prevention Network,
suggested that "parents should consider protecting their
children from the adverse aspects of accessing social
networking sites because society is still yet to develop a
proper code of conduct for these sites".
\fhen I phoned Lee-Ann Foord, I asked her what
activities had occurred locally to assist workers and
Counsellors to de-brief after the extraordinary events.
She said that the volunteer Lifeline Counsellors were de-
briefed after the Community Forums by their Lifeline
Supervisor, and that she was attempting to hold as many
ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills tainings)
Workshops as possible. She was unaware of any other local
'support' or 'supervision' for other Counsellors in the area.
While Trish Herbert told me that she was not personally
1 7hr Cnpa ()uarttrly
involved, two of her current clients were affected by the
young people's completed suicides.
In regional areas, 'everyone knows everyone'yet'help'
or 'supporr' is often di{iicult to access. Many regional
CAPA members work in reiative isolation. In the same way
that we assist our clients to 'connect', this need is just as
strong proFessionally in our regions.
Below are some ideas for regional Counsellors to gain
information, connections or support in the area of Youth
Suicide :
. The NSW Commission for Children & Young
People http://www.kids.nsw.gov.au have a great
website with information on such topics as Mandatory
Reporting, Working with Children Check & the
latest report on SIDS. Subscribing to their fortnightly
e-newsletter is a great way to keep up to date on what's
going on. They also have a 'Kidzone' where young people
can be involved or just find information.
. Lifeline runs ASiST (Applied Suicide Intervention
Skills) tainings regionally. For those on the Mid-North
Coast, contact Lee-Ann Foord, Life Matters Coordinator
& Livingworks Trainer on 02 6581 2800 or email her
lifematters6lifelinemidcoast.org.au. Their website is
www.lifeline.org.aulmidcoast.
. Connect at a Conference. A Youth Heaith 2011
Conference is being held in November at Darling
Harbour. For more info go to
http:/iwww.youthhealth20l 1.com. au.
. Get online with the CAPA Blog
http //thecapaquarterly. blogspot. com.
:
. Join the CAPA Regional & Rural Sub-Committee .
You choose how much involvement you want. \7e have
a roughly monthly phone teleconference for one hour
and keep in contact by email. Many of our discussions
are around connecting and supporting which in some
ways has fulfilled an individual need. \7e are making
PROGRESSII If you want to make a difference with your
peers contact regionalpcapa.asn.au. *
Sharon Ellam
Besides being a fun piano teacher, Sharon Ellam is knoun
around Newcastle and tbe Centra/ Coast for her shills with
Cbildhood Anxietl. Increasingll, Jimilies are coming to
Sharon for hclp with systemic isstLes oftex related to ane
child who is anxious. Vith a bachgrounr) in Nttrsing and
Midwtfery, Sharon also has expertise in emotional issues
during and afrer pregnancl, and aith./imilies afened b1,
an abnormal birth experience, sich or premature newborn.
Sharon is parionate and curiors abott how Counsellors can
build a fne flm ofgossamer across the CAPA spdce to create
a'sharing and reaching web'.