By JOLENE OGLE
THE annual Sunshine Coast Suicide Bereavement Remembrance Day will be held at Picnic Point, Maroochydore, on 13 September.
A joint initiative of community organisations, United Synergies and StandBy Response Service, the event offers a chance to remember those who have been lost through suicide in the community and to acknowledge bereaved family members, friends and associates living beyond suicide.
National StandBy Co-ordinator Jill Fisher said the event will feature guest speakers, an opportunity for people to share their stories and experiences, as well as a barbecue at the end of the day to help the community connect.
“We find people like to talk and share photos of loved ones they have lost as well as photos of themselves, because they have lived through the loss,” she said.
“Hope is infectious.”
The StandBy Response Service was established in 2002 as a community organisation dedicated to post-prevention; helping those who have been affected by or are bereaved by suicide in anyway.
“Anyone can access our services,” Ms Fisher said.
“We offer a link to services and we find by being open we can link people to the different services they need.”
Since establishment, StandBy Response Service has reached across Australia with 16 regions under their care and is the only organisation of its kind offering a specialised care and referral system to anyone who has experienced suicide or loss through suicide in any way.
“We believe post-vention is prevention,” Ms Fisher said.
“What we are doing is getting to those people who could be at risk and we’re giving them a kind of antidote.
“Through helping we’re saying we’re here for you and the community cares.”
The Suicide Bereavement Prevention Day will be help on 13 September, from 10am to noon, at Picnic Point, Maroochydore.
If you or someone you know needs help, please phone LifeLine on 13 11 14.
