GRANTS of up to $150,000 are now open to community groups, organisations and service providers to deliver projects aimed at reducing the impact and incidence of suicide. Murray Primary Health Network will oversee the grants, ranging from up to $10,000, $20,000 and $150,000 to fund multiple approaches across the community to make a difference in reducing suicide rates. Murray PHN chief executive officer Matt Jones said the organisation’s recent experiences demonstrated communities usually understood the barriers, needs, challenges and opportunities they faced, and that the right grassroots projects could generate effective local results. “Every suicide is a tragedy, and one that can be felt deeply in rural and regional areas, where almost everyone knows someone whose family or friends have been impacted,” he said. “The ripple effect of suicide in a small community means that we should be empowering those with first-hand experiences and local insight to help provide targeted support where it is needed most.” Murray PHN is currently working to embed the Black Dog Institute’s community-led Lifespan framework across the region, following successful two-year trials at Mildura and Benalla. For grant applications to be successful, they must meet elements of the framework, which includes focuses on mental health in schools, training the community to recognise and respond to suicidality, providing opportunities to be part of change and improving emergency and follow-up care for suicidal crisis. Another important element is the inclusion of people with lived experience, such as those who have experienced suicidal thoughts, survived a suicide attempt, supported a loved one through suicidal crisis or been bereaved by suicide. Interested parties are encouraged to visit https://app.eprocure.com.au/murrayphn and lodge an application. If you are in an emergency or at immediate risk of harm to yourself or others, please contact emergency services on 000. Other services include: • Lifeline, 24/7 crisis support. Call 13 11 14 or text 0477 131 114; • Beyond Blue, 24/7 mental health support service. Call 1300 22 4636; • Suicide Call Back Service, 24/7 crisis support and counselling service for people affected by suicide. Call 1300 659 467; • 13YARN, 24/7 crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Call 13 92 76; • QLife, LGBTQIA+ support. Call 1800 184 527 (3pm to midnight only).
