Cape York youth to benefit from suicide prevention strategy

The Royal Flying Doctor Service will receive $510,000 over two years to implement a youth suicide prevention strategy in the Cape York region.

Acting Communities Minister Kerry Shine and Member for Cook Jason O'Brien said the funding was being provided under the Cape York Youth Initiatives Program, which was a part of the Queensland Government’s Suicide Prevention Strategy.

Mr O'Brien said the one-off funding would enable the RFDS to facilitate community counselling training and the development of suicide prevention strategies in Kowanyama, Pormpuraaw, Coen, Aurukun and Lockhart River.

“After significant research and consultation with several Indigenous communities in the Cape, the Department of Communities and Youth identified five communities with high numbers of young people self harming and with limited services focussing on youth,” Mr O'Brien said.

“This funding will enable the creation of youth counselling traineeships for local community members, who will be trained to work with young people aged between 12 and 25 in a bid to reduce the incidence of self-harm, attempted suicides and suicides.

“The trainees will work under the supervision of mental health professionals to support young people at risk and to help local communities to develop strategies which address prevention and early intervention aspects of suicide.”

Mr Shine said that the youth-focused traineeships will dovetail with an existing National Suicide Prevention Strategy program being implemented by the RFDS, which provides traineeships in these same communities with a focus on adult mental health.

Mr Shine said by building the capacity of local communities to respond to suicide issues and training local community members to work with young people, the project could provide long-term benefits for Indigenous people in the Cape York region.

“It is reassuring to be working with the RFDS on this project as this organisation has a reputation for delivering high quality medical and allied health services throughout the Cape,” he said.

Media contact: Joe Begley 3235 4286