Lifeline addressing high suicide rates despite funding insecurity Coffs Coast Coffs Coast by News Of The Area - Modern Media - August 16, 2024 Electorate Officer Liz Newberry, Federal Member for Cowper Pat Conaghan, General Manager of Lifeline North Coast Angela Martin, Lifeline Crisis Support and Suicide Prevention Manager Jenna McBeath and Lifeline Senior Operations Manager Ashleigh Kady. HIGH suicide rates and increasing cases of domestic and family violence were top of the agenda when Federal Member for Cowper Pat Conaghan met the Lifeline North Coast management team in Coffs Harbour. Mr Conaghan, who is the Assistant Shadow Minister for Social Services and Prevention of Family Violence, and Electorate Officer Liz Newberry, spoke to Lifeline North Coast’s General Manager Angela Martin, Crisis Support and Suicide Prevention Manager Jenna McBeath and Senior Operations Manager Ashleigh Kady. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s worth it for your business. Message us. Phone us – (02) 4981 8882. Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au The North Coast region, which includes the Clarence Valley and Coffs Harbour, has suicide rates above the state average. “Socio-economic disadvantages in these areas contribute to these high rates,” Ms Martin told the News Of The Area. DFV incidents are also on the rise, with the meeting discussing several barriers to effective suicide prevention. These include the lack of or low-quality services; stigma and shame associated with seeking help; lack of awareness of available resources; limited access to general practitioners; and concerns about confidentiality and transportation issues. Lifeline North Coast, as the lead agency for the Coffs Community Action Group, is actively addressing these challenges through outreach programs; support services such as Pete’s Place, community support following critical incidents, comprehensive training programs including SafeTALK, ASIST, SafeYarn, Accidental Counsellor, Domestic Violence, Self Care, and Suicide Bereavement Support Groups. It also supplies volunteers for the 131114 crisis line. However, Ms Martin says the service faces funding uncertainty. “Lifeline North Coast as well as other mental health services, have faced increased funding insecurity, shorter contract lengths, and a reliance on external funding,” she said. “Rising costs and funding delays have also impacted the organisation’s capacity to employ skilled staff, further exacerbating the ‘do more with less’ mentality.” Mr Conaghan echoed the call for greater government support. “Angela and her team are shining examples of community spirit and are determined to better the mental health of those in need in any way they can,” he said. “With rates of suicide and domestic violence at untenable levels on the Coffs Coast, we desperately need Lifeline North Coast to be thriving and expanding.” By Andrea FERRARI
