Suicide prevention walk at Umina Beach

A local welfare organization is helping organise Lifeline's Out of the Shadows national suicide prevention walk at Umina Beach from 9am on September 8.

This will be the fourth year that Coast Community Connections has hosted the event at Umina Beach Surf Life Saving Club at 9am with a short walk along the water towards the southern end of the beach.

The walk will conclude with a remembrance ceremony.

chief executive Mr Bruce Davis said that showing support for such an important issue can make an enormous difference.

"Raising awareness and increasing people's understanding of suicide and the impact it can have on those closest to you is the first step towards saving lives.

"Sometimes it's just about reaching out to someone and showing that you care, and initiatives like Out of the Shadows give people the tools and the knowledge to be able to make a difference to a great number of lives," Mr Davis said.

He said that statistics showed that men were three times more likely to die by suicide than women, while Indigenous and Torres Strait Islanders were 2.5 times more likely.

"We all have a duty to ourselves to look after our own mental health and have the courage to seek help when times are tough, but it's equally important that the company we keep is capable of reinforcing the hope, joy and love that life can bring."

He said all who were interested in supporting the cause could attend.

Interested locals can simply turn up on the day or pre-register for the walk.

To register, visit Coast Community Connection's website.

SOURCE:

Media release, 13 Aug 2019

Alison Steele, Brilliant Logic