Suicide Assistance In Sport

There is a lot of stigma that surrounds suicide, talking about suicide and suicide education. But with the numbers so prevalent in our communities it is something that we just cant hide and shy away from. In Australia it is reported that 2 in 5 people experience a mental health challenge in their lifetime.

With challenges to our mental health becoming more common it is likely that you or someone you know may have experienced, is going through or has gone through a mental health challenge in their lifetime. It is also reported that there are 9 suicides a day in Australia, thats 7 men and 2 women, resulting in 3,144 people a year, sadly this is 3,144 too many! The importance of mental health education and suicide education to prevent such trageic loss of life should not be understated. Helping people to understand, manage and cope with their thoughts and feelings, providing hope, and healthy coping strategies to be able to help themselves or someone around them is vital in helping to educate and bring these numbers down.

Mental health education and suicide education assist in raising ones self awareness of their own and others emotions, thoughts and behaviours which can assist someone in understanding when professional help may be needed. Helping to increase someones mental health literacy, knowledge and help seeking behaviours is vital in assisting people who may have a mental health challenge before it becomes to big to handle or results in suicide. Picking up on signs and symptoms that someone might be going through a mental health challenge or be suicidal can be vital in saving someones life.

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Some of the signs any symptoms may include:

Hopelessness, Risk taking behaviour, feeling trapped like there is no way out, Threatening, looking to harm or kill themselves, increase in unhealthy coping mechanisms such as increased us of drugs and alcohol, dramatic mood changes and losing a sense or purpose in life to name some of the signs associated with how to assess if someone may be suicidal.

Just remember that you don’t need to recognise all of the symptoms that someone might be experiencing, sometimes all it takes is to recognise on and to start the conversation and encourage professional support from a GP, Psychologist or Counsellor.

The most important concept with suicide education and support is important as it helps people to identify signs and symptoms of someone who might be suicidal. It helps educate on how to approach the conversation with someone about suicide, what to say, how to listen without judgement, as well as how and where professional support for the person who might be experiencing suicidal ideations can be accessed and found. In the case of suicide, prevention and education is the only cure. Help is available and the sooner that people seek professional suicide support to help with the thoughts or feelings they might be having or someone being brave enough to ask someone “how are they really feeling” and listening without judgement, encouraging professional support can save a life. Suicide not only affects direct families involved, it has a huge impact on the community and peoples mental health. If we can help to educate people about mental health to prevent loss of life through suicide and help to improve peoples quality of life, we will have better connected and supportive communities encouraging each others positive mental health and well-being.

In an emergency please contact 000 or contact Lifeline 13 11 14

Jake Edwards

OTLR’s founder, Jake
Edwards, speaks about his experience
as a professional AFL player, living
with depression, attempting suicide
and launching OTLR.

*Trigger Warning*

Todd Morgan

CEO Todd Morgan explains his passion behind OTLR and what has brought him to want to change and save lives across Australia.

*Trigger Warning*