Sessions offer suicide-prevention skills

Annette Beautrais.

Two suicide-prevention workshops will offer practical skills, knowledge and confidence to those taking part, organisers say.

The workshops, at Ranfurly on June 7 and Millers Flat on June 8, will be led by researcher Prof Annette Beautrais.

Prof Beautrais is the suicide-prevention co-ordinator at the South Canterbury District Health Board and has worked in suicide research and prevention in New Zealand and internationally since 1991.

The workshops have been organised by the Otago Suicide Prevention Trust.

Trust member Ian Kerrisk said the workshops would equip participants with "the practical knowledge, skills and confidence to recognise people at risk of suicidal behaviour and refer them to appropriate resources".

Both workshops would have a specific focus on suicide prevention in men and on suicide prevention in rural areas, Mr Kerrisk said.

The workshops will be held in the Ranfurly Bowling Club from 5.30pm to 8.30pm on June 7 and in the Millers Flat Hall from 5.30pm to 8.30pm on June 8.

For more information, phone 027-277-6695, and to register, email j.c.duffy@hotmail.com.

● The Otago Suicide Prevention Trust is also hosting a community talk by suicide-prevention campaigner Mike King at The Gate, in Cromwell, at 7pm on June 13.

pam.jones@odt.co.nz