Six community organisations have received grants from ACT Health to develop four suicide prevention and awareness projects.
The recipients include the AIDS Action Council in partnership with A Genda Agenda, who will receive $20,000 to develop awareness campaigns designed specifically to address mental health and suicide among the LGBTIQ community.
Lifeline Canberra is to receive $9,520 to fund enrolment and training for a further 16 Lifeline crisis support volunteers, who will be able to assist an additional 3,000 callers in crisis in the ACT in their first 12 months.
Mind Blank Ltd, in collaboration with PCYC Canberra, is to receive $20,000 to provide better support to schools and academic institutions by developing new suicide prevention presentations and workshops.
Youth Coalition of the ACT will receive $10,000 to develop a new project that will encourage trained volunteers to assist others in the community by starting conversations and inquiring about their mental health.
Minister for Mental Health, Shane Rattenbury said the projects would be rolled out between now and 30 June 2019.
Mr Rattenbury said he was committed to an integrated approach to mental wellbeing, suicide prevention and self-harm prevention that worked with the community as a whole.
“Through the four projects funded, we are working to ensure suicide prevention programs and crisis support are reaching those who need it most, including young people and the LGBTIQ community,” Mr Rattenbury said.
