November is Movember and a key time to have conversations about how everyone can play a role in suicide prevention. Photo: eslavva99.
CONTENT WARNING: This story refers to suicide.
Illawarra and South Coast residents have been urged to find time during Movember to do free online suicide awareness training.
Movember started in 2003, when a couple of mates decided to encourage their friends to grow moustaches during November and start a serious conversation about men’s health.
What started with 30 men in Melbourne has evolved into a global movement active in 20 countries, raising more than $1.8 billion in prevention-focused work across mental health and suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer.
South Eastern NSW Public Health Network COORDINARE believes Movember is a key time for conversations across communities and workplaces about the role everyone can play in suicide prevention, especially in preventing men dying too young.
COORDINARE’s social impact and engagement manager Jo Riley said more than 3000 Australians died by suicide every year and men accounted for nearly three quarters of these suicides.
“Every life lost is one too many and each suicide affects a large number of people, such as the person’s family, kin, friends, children, partners and work colleagues,” she said.
“We need to be reaching people earlier, before someone reaches crisis point.
“We know many people find it difficult to talk about suicide and while they want to do more to support others, they are uncertain how to help or are worried they may cause more distress.
“Undertaking suicide awareness training can help build your confidence to reach in, start a conversation with someone you’re worried about and support them to seek help.”
The free one-hour online training course has been developed by the Black Dog Institute. It teaches participants how to recognise changes in someone’s behaviour, how to engage in a conversation with a friend, family member or colleague who may have suicidal thoughts and where to find further support.
Using interactive content and realistic videos of conversations, the program emphasises that anyone can engage in meaningful conversations about suicide, regardless of their professional background, Ms Riley said.
The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics Causes of Death data for 2025 highlights that males in occupations as labourers, technicians and trade workers have the highest suicide rates.
“Most of us have a male tradie or labourer in our personal networks – a mate, brother, father, husband, son, uncle, nephew, team member or neighbour – and might see signs that they are doing it tough,” Ms Riley said.
“Rather than waiting for them to reach out and ask for help, you might be well placed to reach in and kick-start a conversation. Take one hour this week to do free Recognise and Respond training so you feel better equipped to spot the signs and potentially have a lifesaving conversation.”
Local workplaces, sporting clubs, men’s sheds or places men often come together are also encouraged to take up the call to build awareness.
The training is open to anyone living or working in the South Eastern NSW Public Health Network Region, which stretches from Helensburgh in the north down to the Victorian border and inland to Cooma/Monaro, Queanbeyan, Yass and Goulburn.
For more information or to register for Recognise and Respond suicide prevention training click here.
If you or someone you are with is in immediate danger call triple zero. If you are feeling distressed and in need of assistance, you can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467, 13YARN on 13 92 76, Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636 or Kids helpline on 1800 55 1800.
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