Lifeline walk to shine a light on suicide

LIFELINE Geelong and South West Victoria is encouraging the community to walk this September in honour of the nine Australians lost to suicide every day.

The organisation’s annual Out of the Shadows Walk will be held on September 10 and will coincide with World Suicide Prevention Day.

Participants are encouraged to walk 9km anywhere at any time to honour the nine lives lost every 24 hours.

All funds raised will help support crisis intervention and suicide prevention services on a local and national scale.

Lifeline Geelong head of corporate and community partnerships Michael Parker said the event promotes a sense of community and a desire to advocate for suicide prevention.

“Whether it is those in crisis experiencing suicidal thoughts, those with lived and living experience or those impacted by bereavement, talking helps to bring suicide out of the shadows so we can shine a light on this important issue,” Mr Parker said.

“The walk is a powerful way to reflect and raise awareness.”

Mr Parker said someone reaches out to Lifeline for help every 28 seconds.

“Each year, over one million Australians reach out to Lifeline for support, showing the importance of services like Lifeline being available for anyone, at a time and place that works for them,” he said.

“Lifeline’s 13 11 14 crisis support line receives a call every 28 seconds, and it is thanks to a network of 41 centres, 10,000 volunteers and 1000 employees providing a lifesaving national infrastructure that allows us to continue to meet this demand.”

To register for the walk or to make a donation, head to outoftheshadowswalk.org.au/fundraisers/lifelinegeelong

If you need immediate help, phone Lifeline Australia on 13 11 14, headspace on 1800 650 890 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.