Steve ‘Neffy’ Neff is tackling the mental health crisis the only way he knows how.
By listening.
Mr Neff lost a family member to suicide, and experienced the lack of available services first hand.
Ever since, he’s been trying to influence change and raise support for the cause before it’s too late.
“In regional areas, the suicide rates are higher, and yet there’s so much less support available,” Mr Neff said.
“It’s not just the immediate family it affects, but the whole community, the flow-on effects are massive.”
This comes after last year Victoria suffered its most suicides since records started in 2000, up nine per cent since 2021, according to the Coroners Court Monthly Suicide Data Report – December 2022.
Drawing upon over a decade of experience as a helpline operator and his affiliation with mental health-focused organisations such as Lifeline, StandBy and Wellways, Mr Neff has been an unwavering advocate for change.
He is the man behind Neffy’s Walk, which saw more than 60 Greater Shepparton residents come together at Victoria Park Lake to complete a suicide prevention walk in April to raise funds for crisis support training.
Now, after starting one in Numurkah, Mr Neff is starting a suicide prevention group in Shepparton.
He is holding a free community session at Mooroopna Education and Activity Centre, 23 Alexandra St, Mooroopna, on Friday, August 25, from 6pm to 7.30pm.
At this session he aims to work with interested residents to create a group that caters to as many people as possible, with other organisations and representatives taking part to answer questions.
“It has to be driven by the group, there’s no point me setting a regular day and time up that doesn’t work for anyone,” Mr Neff said.
This is a small but crucial step in Mr Neff’s long-term goal.
He wants to create a hub that is open 5pm to 10pm, seven days a week, and is always manned by a trained volunteer.
This hub would be available for residents to attend, completely cost- and appointment-free, and speak to a person about their struggles and be connected with the appropriate support services.
Mr Neff believes the services available in Greater Shepparton and other regional areas are either too expensive, have too long a wait list or are inaccessible when people need them (not available after work hours).
Mr Neff said Neffy’s We Listen programs (the chosen name for the initiative) would begin in Shepparton, but that his dream was to expand the project to help struggling regional people all across the country.
Mr Neff expressed his gratitude to Rotary Mooroopna, which will be providing ongoing support to the group and initiative.
“It’s such an important cause, because there are people struggling and they just need the chance to talk to somebody,” Mr Neff said.
“It’s much better to be proactive than reactive, before it’s too late.”
The information session at MEAC requires no RSVP or commitment. Interested residents can just show up and hear about how they or their loved ones can be supported through the initiative.