A teacher is calling an emergency community meeting after another suicide by a young Griffith man.
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Jenna Woodland said something urgently needed to be done to curb Griffith's suicide rate, which stands head and shoulders above the national average.
"Three of the recent suicides were former students at our high school," Ms Woodland said.
"It's shocking to hear we've lost another one of our boys.
"I just wonder to myself: how many more lives are we going to lose?"
Ms Woodland has spoken to many suicidal people as a psychotherapist and a volunteer for the Griffith Suicide Prevention and Support Group hotline, and she says there's a crisis of loneliness among the youth.
More and more of her students are turning to their phones as the primary source of socialisation, and Ms Woodland says that young people are missing out on an important human element as a result.
"You can have 1000 Facebook friends, but it's not the same as walking to the park with your friends, talking face to face, or having a cricket or footy game," she said.
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Ms Woodland said mental health services alone could not replace a strong, supportive social network, which she believes is a crucial ingredient to maintaining a healthy outlook on life.
Ms Woodland is asking members of the public to come to the meeting to brainstorm ideas for how to foster a sense of community, create social support networks, and tamp down on Griffith's suicide rate.
The meeting is open to everyone, but Ms Woodland said she was especially keen to hear from mental health experts, social workers, and members of the Aboriginal and Pacific Islander community who have been rocked by the recent suicides.
"The idea is for the community to take ownership of this problem and brainstorm ideas for what we're going to do about it," Ms Woodland said.
"There's a beautiful saying: it takes a community to raise a child."
The community meeting is tentatively scheduled for February 2, with more precise details to be worked out in the near future.
If you or anyone who know is suffering from depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts you can call the Griffith Suicide Prevention and Support Group's hotline on 1300 133 911, Lifeline on 13 11 14, or Griffith headspace on 6962 3277.
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Kenji Sato
Kenji Sato is a handsome journalist at The Daily Advertiser who enjoys writing flattering bios about himself in the third person. He can be contacted by email at kenji.sato@dailyadvertiser.com.au or by mobile on 0448 927 612.
Kenji Sato is a handsome journalist at The Daily Advertiser who enjoys writing flattering bios about himself in the third person. He can be contacted by email at kenji.sato@dailyadvertiser.com.au or by mobile on 0448 927 612.
