Warning signs aren’t recognised and no conversation is had.

Cathie Whyte knows this firsthand, and wants change. 

“A lot of people have been touched by suicide in some way, I know I have,” she said.

“It’s a taboo subject, the statistics show in 2016 every three hours someone took their life in Australia.”

Mrs Whyte and her good friend Gaynor Hicks, creator of the international Suicide First Aid workshop, are hosting an event in Wodonga on Tuesday to teach people how to have a conversation that could save a life. 

In her literature Ms Hicks says many people ‘are trained in physical first aid, yet we are far more likely to come across someone who is thinking of suicide than someone needing medical aid’.

Both Mrs Whyte and Ms Hick want to break the cycle of silence around suicide.

“We want to reach out and educate people on noticing the signs, how people are talking and reacting,” she said.

“A common theme is people saying ‘I didn’t see it coming’, so we want to try help people identify signs.

“It’s turning into an epidemic in out country but it’s a taboo subject.

“Like anything, once you bring it out into the open and educate people they’re more likely to step out and talk.”

A nurse by trade, Mrs Whyte met Ms Hicks when she attended a Suicide First Aid course and the two quickly became friends. 

Ms Hick is donating her time to teach the course at the Wodonga Men’s Shed, who are donating catering.

Mrs Whyte contacted Carevan, who she volunteers with, fellow nurses and other medical professionals to attend the first session. 

She said demand has been so high from those wanting to attend she was looking at hosting more in the future. 

Mrs Whyte said our culture is slowly changing and becoming more open, but resources in the region are exhausted.

She said the event would not be possible without the help of her husband Shane McKenzie, Ms Hicks, Carevan’s Stacey Franklin and the Wononga Men’s Shed. 

Those interested in future courses can contact Mrs Whyte at chabr@me.com

If you or someone who know needs support visit beyondblue.org.au or call Lifeline 13 11 14