WGAR News: The issue of our time - 1 in 3 deaths by suicide: Gerry Georgatos, The Stringer

Submitted by WGAR - Working ... on Tue, 21/07/2015 - 6:36am

Newsletter date: 21 July 2015; last updated 22 July 2015 11:30 am AEST

* 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 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: The issue of our time - 1 in 3 deaths by suicide
http://thestringer.com.au/the-issue-of-our-time-1-in-3-deaths-by-suicide...
20 Jul 15: "Suicide rates in the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander age group of 15 to 35 years are at horrific rates. Suicide is the leading cause of death in this age group. Thirty per cent of deaths in this vast age group over the five year period 2008 to 2012 have been by suicide. This is nearly 1 in every 3 deaths by suicide. This statistic and the narrative of human suffering and misery should have our governments and their many instruments focused on doing something about this. A critical response should be a national priority. This humanitarian crisis is the issue of our time. It gets worse. ... " By Gerry Georgatos, a researcher in suicide prevention and in racism and is involved with various national and community projects in suicide prevention

- News Analysis

The Stringer: We would like to mediate a way forward for the homeless with the City of Perth
http://thestringer.com.au/we-would-like-to-mediate-a-way-forward-for-the...
20 Jul 15: " ... Elder Bella Bropho despaired after the ninth raid, "They took everything leaving us with no shelter, no warmth and no protection from the cold, disrupting our way of being together." "They took everything, even water containers, mugs, pots and the food and leaving women and children to the cold." "We thank all those who have been helping us with tents and blankets, foam mattresses and essentials. Our water containers, plates, mugs, pots and billy cans for a cup of tea were all taken from us by Perth City Council. We thank and appreciate our good gutsy friends and supporters. They will never be forgotten by us, forever remembered in the diary of our minds." ... " By Gerry Georgatos

- News Analysis

Platform News: Defying Ignorant Politicians on the Homeless in WA
[featuring veteran campaigner Gerry Georgatos]
http://www.platformnews.com.au/newsblog/defying-ignorant-politicians-on-...
15 Jul 15: " ... Homeless Friendly Precincts: Representing a complete contrasting ideology to the Barnett Government is a campaign suggesting that our towns and cities should in fact become more hospitable for homeless people. Gerry Georgatos is a veteran campaigner for human rights across Australia and his latest efforts have been in addressing the issue of homelessness across the country. He has suggested that rather than the inhumane policy of simply shifting homeless people away from populated areas, as per our politicians’ out-of-sight-out-of-mind approach, homeless friendly precincts can be established to address the underlying causes of homelessness in these areas. ... " By Daisy Waters

- Analysis / Opinion

The Stringer: Stop selling 'resilience' as panacea to the poor and marginalised
http://thestringer.com.au/stop-selling-resilience-as-panacea-to-the-poor...
19 Jul 15: "Governments, their instruments, not-for-profits and charities are selling ‘resilience’ to the poor and the most vulnerable. There is as if an endlessness of programs and services around resilience building - the asking of the poor, the vulnerable, the homeless to ‘tough it out’. In fact it’s a demanding of the poor to accept their lot because for the majority of them there is next-to-nothing else. Contextually, there is little else. The reality is governments do not spend on improving the lot of our most vulnerable. The not-for-profit sectors and charities which benefit from government funding keep to whatever is the mainstream methodology – for now it is resilience building. But you know, the majority of people can only adjust their responses to deprivation so far and only for so long. ... " By Gerry Georgatos

- 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. ... "

- Homepage

Welcome to Platform News - Perth's independent news
engage, enrich & entrust
http://www.platformnews.com.au/

- About

Our Journey So far... Platform News
http://www.platformnews.com.au/our-journey
" ... 30 April 2015: Platform News' 1st Birthday!
27 May 2015: Pinterest account launched to offer Platform's audience some selected alternative content to supplement our news agenda.
24 June 2015: Petition launched on GetUp!'s Community Run page seeking 1,000 signatures in support of new Perth news media.
13 July 2015: Our most successful week in terms of website traffic. Data to be used for the creation of a Media Kit to begin attracting advertising revenue to pay for more content.
14 July 2015: Commissioned to write three articles for The Stringer - the first titled Fudging the Numbers: Indigenous Suicide."

- Background:

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: 17 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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