For the third year in a row, community members are invited to come together to walk, talk and raise awareness about suicide.
The We Listen Suicide Awareness Walk, organised by Steve ‘Neffy’ Neff, will take place on Saturday, October 26, at Victoria Park Lake in Shepparton.
Registration begins at 5.30pm. The walk will take place from 6pm to 8.30pm.
Participants can meet at the Lions barbecue shelter.
This year, Mr Neff said the focus was to raise awareness for people impacted by suicide, the friends and family left behind, as well as raising awareness about mental health and those that were struggling with mental health in the community.
“The ones who are left behind are the ones who are often left with the shame and the questions,” Mr Neff said.
Mr Neff said he’d lost a couple of people close to him to suicide.
He said people were often left with an array of emotions to deal with and might not know how to access support.
That’s part of what prompted him to start the We Listen Suicide Loss Support Group, which meets monthly.
“Reach out and come along. Let’s break this taboo about suicide,” he said.
Mr Neff has a vision of local groups in every town in regional Victoria to help those who have lost loved ones, and people in the community struggling with mental health.
“It would be good for people to be able to go to someone in their local community and say, ‘I’m struggling’,” he said.
In 2022, there were 3249 suicide deaths in Australia, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
For those who lose a loved one to suicide, the grief can be complex, according to registered clinical counsellor Christine Griffin.
Ms Griffin founded the Trauma Healing Centre in Shepparton.
She said people could experience grief, guilt, confusion and a sense of helplessness, and also be left with unanswered questions.
“People feel quite alone in it. I think it’s different than losing someone to a car accident or health issues,” Ms Griffin said.
She said raising awareness was necessary because there was stigma attached to suicide.
For anyone who was struggling with a loss, Ms Griffin said whatever they were feeling was normal, and ensuring they had space to debrief was important.
If you know someone who may be struggling with loss or mental health challenges, Ms Griffin and Mr Neff said reaching out and offering connection could help.
There are also resources available.
The Suicide Call Back Service offers free online and phone counselling for anyone affected by suicide.
The service can be reached on 1300 659 467.
For anyone struggling or at risk of suicide, there is 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention available via Lifeline.
That number is 13 11 14.