Introducing: Well Man Ambassadors
A new suicide prevention program to be launched in Charters Towers this week will see trained locals raising awareness and providing links to vital support services across the community.
The new program, ‘Well Man Ambassadors,’ will allow locals to make themselves known as a support system for someone in distress or a link to vital mental health services available in the region.
The program will launch from next Monday (6 March) all through the week, the City Arcade, with a range of information about the program available, as well as giveaways, gift bags, merchandise, and ice creams from the famous ‘Ice Creams by Birdie.’
Suicide Prevention Coordinator Bryn Hicks (pictured) said ambassadors were not counsellors, but were a support system for ‘someone that just needs an ear.’
“We find a lot of people will come up and say I need help but I don’t know where to go,” Mr Hicks said.
“Community involvement is key to the success of the program … We are looking for Charters Towers locals to put their hands up to become Well Man Ambassadors and role models for the community.
‘Ambassadors will be educated on the services available in the community, undertake specialised training for suicide prevention and be an important link for people in distress.
“Regional and remote parts of Queensland have suicide rates up to twice as high as major cities, this is what gave us motive to rollout this program.
Regional Coordinator for selectability, Sue-Ellen Weedon has said the program had received a great response from the community.
“The launch is fast approaching and is an exciting project for the Charters Towers community,” Sue-Ellen said.
“Regional communities like Charters Towers need increased resilience when it comes to responding to crisis, and that is what this program is all about.
“I know personally that there are plenty of people out there devoted to suicide prevention projects in the community, and we are hoping Well Man Ambassadors will bring that into the light.
“It is important that our ambassadors are locals devoted to the cause… no one understands the community needs better than locals.”
Well Man Ambassadors is set to launch early next week in the main arcade of Charters Towers main street.
Locals are invited to attend to learn more about the program, how they can get involved and what is in store for the program over the coming months.
The project has received joint funding by the Australian and Queensland governments under the Queensland Resilience and Risk Reduction Fund (QRRRF).
Well Man Ambassadors launch.
When: all week from Monday, 6 march
Time: 11am – 4pm
Where: Charters Towers Woolworths Arcade (in front of Queensland Country Credit Union)
What is available: Information, giveaways, gift bags, merchandise, ice cream (from Ice Creams by Birdie)
