The townspeople of Goolgowi will gather for an emergency mental health meeting, following the news of yet another suicide in the community.
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The event was spearheaded by Marie Clarke, who said she could not bear to stand by and do nothing while her community was torn apart by suicides.
"There's been so many suicides and attempted suicides here at Goolgowi," Ms Clarke said
"After the last one I got to thinking: I have to do something to prevent it happening to anyone else.
"I lost my uncle out here to suicide too a few years ago, and so many people I know have taken their own life or tried to, and I just wanted to do something."
The community has since rallied behind her, including headspace, Wellways, the Griffith Suicide Prevention and Support Group, the Griffith Rotary Club, and the Country Rugby League.
In other news
The rugby league community will be joining to show their respects to their teammate Billy Hale, who took his own life this year, and whose mother took her own life a few months afterwards.
Griffith Suicide Prevention and Support Group president Val Woodland said she was deeply moved to see the community rally together in times of crisis.
"Small towns like that are very good at coming together and organising something for the town to help their people," Mrs Woodland said.
"They're a farming community so they've had issues with drought over the last few years and now there's lockdown - it's just one thing after another."
Mrs Woodland said suicide was a major problem for the wider Griffith area, with around 18 suicides in the last year alone.
However she said her suicide support group hotline was still running cold, a sure sign that attitudes still needed be changed around seeking help and talking openly about mental health.
The community will be meeting at 4pm on August 22 at the Goolgowi Ex-Servicemen's Club, where they will invite members of the public to offer suggestions about what could be done about the problem.
Residents from surrounding towns are also welcome, and on the day people will be discussing what mental health services and community events could help people in the region.
If you or anyone you know suffers from depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts you can call the Griffith Suicide Prevention and Support Group hotline on 1300 133 911, Lifeline on 13 11 14, or headspace Griffith on 6962 3277
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.
