A NETWORK to bring government, organisations and business together to lower the suicide rate was launched at a community event in Cleveland on Thursday.
The Suicide Awareness Network was launched at the end of a suicide prevention evening organised by Survivors of Suicide Fighting Against Suicide Toll.
SOS Fast was founded by Kerrie Keepa who lost her son Chris to suicide two years ago.
Held at Redland Performing Arts Centre on Thursday, the event included a hypothetical performance by two actors about a young man struggling with mental illness.
Experts provided their insights during the performance.
Ms Keepa said after the event the network was a partnership between SOS Fast and ConNetica Consulting run by mental health expert John Mendoza.
She said it had the backing of Redland City Council.
“We will be approaching the bus companies, Queensland Rail and big corporations to get people talking about suicide prevention,” she said.
Speaking at the event, Professor Mendoza said suicide was having an unprecedented toll on communities in Australia.
He said people needed to work together to help those going through a crisis.
“It’s only through our action that we’ll see that (the rate of suicide) turn around,” Professor Mendoza said.
Ms Keepa said feedback from the event was positive and SOS Fast had been asked to run it in Ipswich and Toowoomba as well as farming communities.
For information on SOS Fast like their Facebook page at facebook.com/sosfastttttt.
