Learning how to recognise when someone might be thinking about suicide, and how to connect them with help, is one of the most useful skills a community can have. Coaches, publicans, tradies, teachers and neighbours are often the first to notice. Here are some options for training close to home.
Local, in-person training
- CORES Queensland — Suicide Intervention Training. A community-based course for anyone aged 15 and over. Recent sessions in the Whitsundays have run free.
- Grapevine Group — safeTALK. A free three-hour introduction for the Mackay, Isaac and Whitsunday regions. No experience needed.
- Wesley LifeForce. Free half-day community workshops run across Queensland.
Dates change, so it’s worth checking with each provider before you plan. We list what we know on our Resources page, and we share anything coming up on our events page.
Online options
If you’d rather learn from home, there are online courses too. Open Arms offers a free online Suicide Prevention START course for veterans, their families and people who support the veteran community, and LivingWorks START is available at low cost.
Why it matters
You don’t need to be a counsellor to make a difference. Knowing what to look for and what to say — and who to call — means more people in our towns know what to do when it counts.
