By Max Davies
People with lived experience have combined with representatives from community service providers to work together and form a group aiming to prevent suicide through providing training and support to Macedon Ranges residents.
Macedon Ranges Suicide Prevention Action Group, MRSPAG, has been in operation for about 10 years and was initially supported by the Macedon Ranges Shire Council in 2012 to try to reduce instances of suicide in the region.
MRSPAG aims to provide training and support for mental health, including equipping people with methods to appropriately support someone struggling with their mental health.
MRSPAG secretary Noelene Ward said it was important to have such a group in the Macedon Ranges as it could provide connections between people and health services.
“It’s one way of disseminating information and enabling the community to help themselves and work through the training because the health system isn’t able to meet all needs at the moment – although that’s changing with the Royal Commission,” she said.
“At a ground level and the community level, if we can help each other and then help people that we might be concerned about to speak, that helps the whole community.”
MRSPAG offers a range of programs and activities to help support the community including peer support, a support group called Tools 4 Living Well, and mental health first aid training.
When support agencies are not effective, MRSPAG also meets monthly in Newham to support people who have lost loved ones to suicide.
A trend that has been noticed at MRSPAG’s Newham meetings is that women often attend without their husbands.
As a result, MRSPAG will host a Men’s Evening Program in Mount Macedon to provide an opportunity to connect with other men who have been bereaved by suicide, in a relaxed and welcoming environment.
“When we have the gatherings, traditionally they’re mainly women who come along and their husbands aren’t interested in coming to something that seems more formal,” Ms Ward said.
“To have this men’s group here, we’re hoping that some of the local people will come along for the barbecue and the guest speaker – just blokes having a chat in something less formal in approach.”
The Men’s Evening Program is planned for 6.30pm to 9pm on September 14 at Mount Macedon Golf Club, located at 583 Mount Macedon Road.
To attend, people are encouraged to RSVP by Friday by emailing peersupport@mrspag.com.au.
“Everything we do is tailored to what local needs are and what we’ve noticed is happening with people and our situation,” Ms Ward said.
“If it’s from the state level, it’s not going to be tailored to our area. That’s the big thing, just making something for the people in our area.”
For more information on the group, people can visit mrspag.com.au.
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