WGAR News: Catastrophic suicide crisis will escalate "unless"... Gerry Georgatos, The Stringer

Submitted by WGAR - Working ... on Mon, 17/08/2015 - 9:03pm

Newsletter date: 18 August 2015

Creative Spirits: Aboriginal suicide rates
WGAR Background to Suicide and Self-harm in First Nations Communities
Creative Spirits: Aboriginal law & justice: http://www.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/law/
WGAR Background: Justice Reinvestment, Aboriginal imprisonment and Aboriginal deaths in custody

* Crisis Support - Talk to Someone - 24-hours/day 7-days/week:
Lifeline - Crisis Support and Suicide Prevention: 13 11 14 https://www.lifeline.org.au/Get-Help/
Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467 https://www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au/
Beyond Blue - Talk it through with us: 1300 22 4636 http://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/get-immediate-support

WGAR News postings on Indymedia Australia: https://indymedia.org.au/newswire
WGAR News Public Google Group: https://groups.google.com/forum/?hl=en-GB#!forum/wgar-news
WGAR News - Working Group for Aboriginal Rights (Australia)

- Analysis / Opinion

The Stringer: Catastrophic suicide crisis will escalate "unless"...
http://thestringer.com.au/catastrophic-suicide-crisis-will-escalate-unle...
17 Aug 15: "Last year, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics there were 2,620 reported deaths of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islanders in 2012 of which it was reported that 117 were suicides, with six yet to be classified at the time of publication. Earlier this year, the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported a record-high 2,811 deaths, while 138 suicides were reported. Prior to these reports my own research had estimated that there would be at least 120 Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander deaths classified suicides for 2012 and 140 suicides for 2013. From 2001 to 2010 there were 996 Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander suicides – an average of 100 per year. ... " By Gerry Georgatos, a researcher in suicide prevention and racism and is involved with various national and community projects in suicide prevention

- Articles

Aboriginal Specific News - Australia - The Stringer
http://thestringer.com.au/category/aboriginal-specific-news-australia

- Analysis

The Stringer: The making of Australia's first homeless friendly precincts
http://thestringer.com.au/the-making-of-australias-first-homeless-friend...
14 Aug 15: " ... "Shelter SA supports Gerry Georgatos’ idea, put forward in his article in The Stringer and elsewhere to create homeless friendly precincts. According to Jennifer Kaeshagen, Director of the First Nations Homelessness Project, "It’s time for homeless friendly precincts. Safe spaces where people experiencing homelessness can go to 24/7, no waiting lists, no questions asked – people’s privacy, sensitivities respected. Places where the compassionate public can drop off donations to. Places designated, designed for people experiencing homelessness, places they will not be moved on from, shamed. Places that belong to them." Shelter SA agrees, "social and affordable housing is a must, but in the meantime we should be implementing homeless friendly precincts as a matter of urgency," said Dr Clark." By The Stringer

" - If you can assist with accommodation and/or essentials for the homeless contact Jennifer Kaeshagen – 0449 655 282 – contact@thestringer.com.au "

" - If you can lend support to the campaign for ‘Homeless Friendly Precincts’ contact Gerry Georgatos – 0430 657 309 – gerry_georgatos@yahoo.com.au "

- News Analysis

The Stringer: It's time for homeless friendly precincts - the minimum standard
http://thestringer.com.au/its-time-for-homeless-friendly-precincts-the-m...
12 Aug 15: "The campaign for homeless friendly precincts has been winning significant promises of goodwill. Yesterday, the City of Fremantle Mayor, Brad Pettitt stated his support and will be taking the concept to his councillors next week at a briefing meeting ahead of their full council meeting. This support follows last Friday’s overwhelming support by the City of Perth’s Mayor and Deputy Mayor for these precincts. ... the homeless friendly precincts should be a must-do. They are definitely a can-do; one-off infrastructure costs by no means expensive and then thereafter maintenance and operational costs only. ... " By Gerry Georgatos

- News Analysis

The Stringer: Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi supports homeless friendly precincts
http://thestringer.com.au/lord-mayor-lisa-scaffidi-supports-homeless-fri...
9 Aug 15: "Yesterday, as part of the campaign to establish homeless friendly precincts right across Perth as a minimum standard in responding to the homelessness crisis, Jennifer Kaeshagen and I met with the Lord Mayor and Deputy Mayor of the City of Perth. Homeless friendly precincts are a sliver of human dignity to the homeless – a can-do, must-do. A homeless friendly precinct is in the least merely a few hundred square metres where the homeless can go to each day – to shower, to wash their clothes, to store their belongings, to receive the most basic medical treatment, to rest, to make use of a few simple services, for instance a rostered barber. ... " By Gerry Georgatos

- Analysis / Opinion

The Stringer: Prison - a missed opportunity
http://thestringer.com.au/prison-a-missed-opportunity-10748
9 Aug 15: "I would be inclined to argue myself as a prison abolitionist – for the most part we can do away with prisons and certainly by all means do away with prisons as a punitive, penal estate. The punishment and control bit just does not work but yet we throw more money at it – and the prison population increases, the offending rates do not decrease. If we want to help people improve their lot and therefore reduce the risk factors that lead to ‘offending’ then why are we not helping them while they are in prison? ... " By Gerry Georgatos, a prison reform advocate, a researcher in suicide prevention and racism and is involved with various national and community projects in suicide prevention. He has assisted inmates and ex-inmates through alternative pathway programs into tertiary education.

- Bio

Gerry Georgatos - The Stringer
http://thestringer.com.au/gerry-georgatos-contributing-editor-and-journa...
"His predominant work is in suicide prevention research and in unveiling racism and in articulating the ways forward. ... Some of his stories on homelessness in First Nations communities have led to many people housed and to restorative cultural projects. ... He is an expert in his fields, particularly in the understanding of racism and in suicide prevention - and involves himself at the coalface in addition to interfacing with Governments. ... "

- About

The Stringer's Editorial policy:
[scroll down page] http://thestringer.com.au/about-us
"Independent news media contributes to the unfolding landscape of human rights and social justice. It is The Stringer’s aim to provide every opportunity to the rise of voices that far too often are denied. If The Stringer believes in the importance of a story we will sustain coverage - this is what The Stringer terms through-care journalism. The Stringer has become known for breaking stories that others initially were not prepared to investigate and report. ... "

- Support

Fund The Stringer
http://thestringer.com.au/fund-the-stringer
"We know how much you like reading the news on The Stringer website. If you’d like to help us continue to shine a massive great big flood lamp on the political injustices of this country and, indeed, the world then please contribute whatever you feel able to using the form below. ... "

- Background

Compilation: Creative Spirits: Aboriginal suicide rates
http://www.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/people/aboriginal-suic...
"Suicide was unknown to Aboriginal people prior to invasion. Appalling living conditions and past traumas have led to a suicide rate that by far exceeds that of non-Aboriginal people."
"In this article:
* Selected statistics
* "Death is our life" - Aboriginal suicide is at crisis levels
* Australia’s Aboriginal suicide epidemic
* Why do Aboriginal people kill themselves?
* Effects of suicide
* Overcoming the suicide crisis
* Get help"
By Jens Korff, Last updated: 22 July 2015

WGAR Background to Suicide and Self-harm in First Nations Communities
https://indymedia.org.au/2014/12/24/wgar-background-to-suicide-and-self-...
(last updated: 25 July 2015)

Compilation: Creative Spirits: Aboriginal law & justice
http://www.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/law/
"Contemporary law and justice has replaced traditional Aboriginal law and caused much pain and suffering. Aboriginal deaths in custody and Aboriginal prison rates are perpetual problems. Circle sentencing seems to break the often deadly prison cycle."
By Jens Korff, Last updated: 19 March 2015

WGAR Background: Justice Reinvestment, Aboriginal imprisonment and Aboriginal deaths in custody
https://indymedia.org.au/2014/12/24/wgar-background-justice-reinvestment...
(last updated: 25 July 2015)

- Crisis Support - Talk to Someone - 24-hours/day 7-days/week:

Emergency:
For immediate assistance when life may be in danger
Call 000
https://www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au/emergency

Lifeline's 24/7 hotline
13 11 14
Crisis Support and Suicide Prevention services
https://www.lifeline.org.au/Get-Help/

Suicide Call Back Service
1300 659 467
Twenty-four hours a day seven days a week
The Suicide Call Back Service provides free nationwide professional telephone and online counselling for anyone affected by suicide.
https://www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au/

Beyond Blue
1300 22 4636
Depression. Anxiety.
Talk it through with us, day or night
http://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/get-immediate-support

Useful national contact numbers - Suicide Prevention Crisis Contacts
http://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Suicide_Pr...

Mens Line
1300 78 99 78
MensLine Australia is a professional telephone and online support and information service for Australian men
http://www.mensline.org.au/

Kids Help Line
1800 55 1800
aged 5 - 25 yrs
http://www.kidshelp.com.au/

- - -

WGAR: Working Group for Aboriginal Rights (Australia)

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'WGAR News' monitors the media, including alternative media, focusing on:

* The Freedom Summit's National Freedom Movement;
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