Indigenous Suicide Prevention Forum

Culture is Life travelled to Meanjin (Brisbane) on Tuurbal country for the Indigenous Suicide Prevention (ISP) Forum in March 2023. Our CEO, Belinda Duarte, Programs Manager Thara Brown, past and current fellows Manny Williams, Malachi Murlacic and Guyala Bayles, and Indigenous Psychologist, Dr Justin Trouson from Connected Minds Psychology and Richmond Football Clubs, Korin Gamadji Institute facilitated a some yarning circles and delivered a panel ‘Truth telling for Healing in Education’.

The panel drew focus on the importance of truth telling our local communities history, stories and unsung heroes that continue to pave the way for future generations. Manny and Guyala shared spoken words and highlighted the importance of community unity, strength, knowledge and culture sharing within ourselves to continue the path of healing for our communities, Elders & young people.

Our fellows reflected on the need to be coming from a strength and solutions based approach and have more mob with lived experience to share their story and tools they used along their journey, instead of people talking about problems and statistics which we are all too familiar with. A need for healing focused gatherings for young First Nations peoples was discussed with interests shown from other delegates. Something to work towards in the future!

Thank you to the Australian Indigenous Psychology Association and Eventedge for bringing us together to discuss important research and preventative strategies to strengthen the health and wellbeing of our communities.