WHAT DO I SAY? WHAT DO I DO?
IMPROVING OUR CAPACITY TO RESPOND TO AND
SUPPORT PEOPLE BEREAVED BY SUICIDE
June 2007
• People who are bereaved by suicide require assistance and support
in dealing with their unique and tragic loss. Gaining access to the right
type of support, at the right time, can mean the difference between learning
to live with their loss or suffering compounded and long term complications
which impact on their ability to live productive and healthy lives.
• Local community support ensures that the bereaved do not feel alone
or neglected and are less likely to be emotionally and physically overwhelmed
by their loss.
• It is the leading cause of death through injury in Australia, exceeding
the number of deaths by motor vehicle accidents, falls, accidental poisoning,
death by fire, burns, drowning or deaths inflicted by another person.
• The 2098 deaths by suicide registered in Australia in 2004 (ABS 2006)
translates to at least 21,000 people bereaved and directly impacted by suicide
in that year. The number affected by suicide can be ten times that number.
The cumulative nature of bereavement means that several times that number
will mourn this type of death in any given year.
• The StandBy Response Service works by harnessing the cooperation of
local services and support groups to respond to people bereaved by suicide.
• The service is funded by the Commonwealth Department. of Health and
Ageing.
• The service will offer crisis counselling, support and information
to anyone bereaved by suicide. The initial contact must come from the person(s)
requiring support. First responders to the scene of a suicide, such as police
and ambulance personnel, will provide the bereaved with our crisis telephone
number and details of our service.
• Whilst the first contact will usually occur by phone, the service
does offer face-to-face contact either at the home of the bereaved, or at
some other location felt to be suitable by both parties.
• Once contact has been made, we can also offer support and assistance
with referrals to other agencies, as and when required. We can be contacted
at any time following a bereavement, whenever support is wanted.
• Cairns StandBy provides support to communities from Cardwell to Cooktown
and Hopevale, and as far west as Mount Garnet, Chillagoe and Laura.
• Cairns StandBy is auspiced by the Dr Edward Koch Foundation, a non-profit
community public health and research organisation.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Shek Graham
Cairns StandBy Coordinator
Dr Edward Koch Foundation
6, Aplin Street
Cairns 4870
Ph: 4031 0145
e-mail: shek@kochfoundation.org.au
www.kochfoundation.org.au