Community Broadcasting Suicide Prevention Project - May 2015

Danny Chifley, 29th April 2015

The Community Broadcasting Association is pleased to welcome you to the May 2015 content of our national suicide prevention and mental health awareness project, developed with the support of the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.

Each month, our project team develops a series of 20 short radio segments designed to promote help-seeking behaviour and positive lifestyle choices, using interviews with service providers, as well as profiles of people who have successfully dealt with tough times in their lives.

This month we catch up with Allan Sparkes, a beyondblue Ambassador and member of Suicide Prevention Australia’s Lived Experience Network Leadership Group, who volunteers much of his time telling his story about his experiences with PTSD and depression and providing knowledge, hope and inspiration to others.

We hear about the relaunching of a beyondbluecampaign that aims to address LGBTI discrimination among teenagers and young men.

We find out how a simple idea developed by six mates to raise awareness about depression after losing a friend to suicide has developed into a major national event bringing together celebrities and community members.

And we speak with Australia’s Got Talent performer Justin Geange, an inspirational man who uses his experiences of living with bipolar to encourage others to seek help and support each other.

For more information on this project, please contact the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia on (02) 9310 2999, or email: [email protected]

Track	Topic
1	We speak with Australia’s Got Talent performer Justin Geange, an inspirational man who uses his experiences of living with bipolar to encourage others to seek help and support each other.
2	We learn about the Plebs Pros and Personalities 24 Hour run, which aims to raise awareness of mental health and suicide prevention around the nation.
3	We catch up with beyondblue CEO Georgie Harman, and ask her some of the signs people should be aware of that could indicate they need to get some support to deal with anxiety.
4	We catch up with school counsellor and R U OK? advocate Ross Whitfield to find out why the simple act of listening to someone talk about what they’re going through can be so important.
5	We speak with Meg Anderson, an inspirational young woman who has drawn on her own experiences of depression to raise awareness among young people of mental illness.
6	We hear about the relaunching of a beyondblue campaign that aims to address LGBTI discrimination among teenagers and young men.
7	We catch up with Allan Sparkes, a former police officer who volunteers much of his time telling his story about his experiences with PTSD and depression and providing hope and inspiration to others.
8	We hear about how the SANE Forums have been providing online peer-to-peer support for carers and families in rural and regional areas, as well as people with lived experience of mental illness.
9	We learn about It Gets Better Australia, an inspirational project that aims to remind teenagers who are being bullied or discriminated against that they’re not alone, and that their lives will get better.
10	We profile QLife, Australia’s first nationally-oriented counselling and referral service for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex people.
11	We hear more about the life journey of Justin Geange, an inspirational man who uses his experiences of living with bipolar to encourage others to seek help and support each other.
12	School counsellor and R U OK? advocate Ross Whitfieldreminds us that once we’ve had a first conversation with someone about the problems they’re facing, it’s important to follow up with them and stay connected.
13	*beyondblue* CEO Georgie Harman provides some advice for people who may be concerned that they, or someone they care about, are experiencing anxiety.
14	*headspace* national youth reference group member Meg Anderson encourages young people who might be experiencing the signs of depression or another mental illness to reach out for help.
15	We hear more from Allan Sparkes, a former police officer who volunteers much of his time telling his story about his experiences with PTSD and depression and providing hope and inspiration to others.
16	*beyondblue* CEO Georgie Harman speaks about the impacts of homophobia on young LBGTI people.
17	We hear more about the Plebs Pros and Personalities 24 Hour run, which aims to raise awareness of mental health and suicide prevention around the nation.
18	We learn about some tools, tips, videos and fact sheets *beyondblue*can provide to help us to begin conversations about mental health.
19	School counsellor and R U OK? advocate Ross Whitfield provides some advice on how to support those around us through tough times.
20	We hear more from Australia’s Got Talent performer Justin Geange about his experiences of living with bipolar and his journey of recovery since his diagnosis.