A multi-million dollar plan aims to halve Victorian suicide rates in the next decade.
The state government launched Victoria’s 10-year mental health plan recently, announcing $27 million of funding for two suicide prevention initiatives.
Support trials will be rolled through sports clubs, schools and networks in six regions across the state, including Brimbank, that have high suicide rates and vulnerable communities.
The Health and Human Services Department will run the programs to educate people about suicide and how to try to identify those at risk earlier.
A department spokesman said Brimbank was selected to be part of the trial program because of its high rates of suicide and its diverse population.
“It is anticipated a large number of services and organisations across the area will be actively involved,” he said.
Cohealth chief executive Lyn Morgain said the plan was to create “wide-ranging interventions” in Brimbank.
“We know that health [care] starts long before illness,” she said.
“It is also pleasing to see there will be a focus for prevention programs in specific vulnerable groups such as Aboriginal Victorians, LGBTI people, refugees and the families and carers of suicidal people.”
