Suicide Prevention Queensland website now live!

selectability is excited to launch a new website to bring increased focus and urgency to vital suicide prevention programs across regional Queensland.

The Suicide Prevention Queensland website, an initiative of selectability, was created in response to rising suicide rates in regional Queensland and will focus on raising funds to support local communities to develop tailored programs and vital support services.

The new website has been welcomed by those with lived experience of suicide including Survivors of Suicide Bereavement Support Association co-facilitator, Ray O’Brien, who said the website was an important cornerstone in responding to the urgent need for support services in regional and rural Queensland.

“The website is definitely a start to giving people the support they need and selectability are in an outstanding position to be able to do this (through its Suicide Prevention Queensland platform),” Mr O’Brien said.

Mr O’Brien, who lost his son Sam, a young up and coming journalist in 2017 to suicide and said consultation with those with lived experience is important to helping reduce rates of suicide.

“The voice of lived experience is often the quietest in the room but they can provide valuable insights when they are listened to.”

“If we can identify the common threads by talking to different stakeholders in different areas, and, you can join the dots… selectability and Suicide Prevention Queensland have the ability to draw those dots together, and they are in a really strong position to make meaningful change.”

Suicide in Queensland is the leading cause of death for people aged between 15-44, with regional and remote communities reporting up to double the suicide rate in comparison to major cities.

General Manager for suicide prevention, Sandra Moore said consultation and engagement, improving access to vital services and training and education were all key factors to Suicide Prevention Queensland’s vision of Queensland communities free of suicide.

“Our direction and vision will be a big feature of our new website, so that those who donate have a clear view of our action plan as we roll out over the coming months,” Ms Moore said

“People visiting the website will also be able to find help, fundraise for us and read stories from those with lived experience.

“I think it is a sign of things to come, we are very clear on our aim to be regionally focused community led, with 90 per cent of donations going back into the regions that need it the most.”

Suicide Prevention Queensland was created by selectability in 2022 to address the urgent need for support in regional and remote parts of Queensland.

The website launch is the first announcement which will be followed by an official launch of the organisation later this year.

You can view the website and make a donation HERE