Wollongong resident Nieves Murray sees the distress local people are experiencing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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The Suicide Prevention Australia CEO though knows hundreds of thousands of Australians living in regions like the Illawarra, are going through similar hardships.
That's why Ms Murray joined with the Wesley Mission on Monday to call on government to provide increased support to Australians experiencing distress following the COVID-19 pandemic.
The call came hot on heels of their white paper titled: Reducing distress in the community following the COVID-19 pandemic.
"The COVID-19 pandemic is a unique health crisis and one that has touched the lives of thousands directly affected by the virus, as well as their loved ones," Ms Murray said.
"As a nation, we also need to recognise the impact of COVID-19 extends to millions of others in our community, many of who have lost their jobs, been isolated from their social networks and - perhaps for the first time - are struggling with their wellbeing.
"Our report shows that people are experiencing distress due to being out of work, being homeless, lonely or through a drug or alcohol problem. These life circumstances can leave people vulnerable to distress and suicidality."
The paper recommends a whole of government, whole of community approach to tackle these secondary impacts of the crisis which are being felt across Australia.
"What we've put forward in this report is a series of recommendations to the government to instigate additional protective factors for our communities to ensure that the economic downturn that will result as a consequence of the pandemic will not lead to increased death by suicide," Ms Murray said.
What we've put forward in this report is a series of recommendations to the government to instigate additional protective factors for our communities to ensure that the economic downturn that will result as a consequence of the pandemic will not lead to increased death by suicide.
- Suicide Prevention Australia CEO Nieves Murray
"There are two significant things from an economic perspective, that the report is calling on the government to do. One, is to keep JobSeeker or NewStart at the current rate and secondly to extend JobKeeper beyond September for targetted industries.
"The sorts of industries we've identified are aviation, recreation and in particular the arts.
"Regions that are heavily focused on things like tourism and recreation, like ours are the ones that are feeling it the most.
"The other additional fact for our region is the fact that our area was very heavily impacted by the bushfires so we've had this kind of protracted exposure to distress and trauma since the beginning of the year.
'That's why we are asking the government not to wait until September before extending JobKeeper and JobSeeker."
Regions that are heavily focused on things like tourism and recreation, like ours are the ones that are feeling it the most.
- Suicide Prevention Australia CEO Nieves Murray
Wesley Mission CEO, the Rev Keith V Garner AM added the paper calls for additional research and screening for at-risk groups along with suicide prevention training for frontline personnel to be able to intervene.
"We need to engage governments and communities to make their vital contributions. Australia's response to the pandemic so far shows the success a joined-up approach can have," he said.
Mr Garner believes that it is time to change the conversation about suicide following COVID-19.
"Our 114 suicide prevention networks across Australia have reported a strong negative impact to people's wellbeing from unemployment and increasing concerns for finances. Both are well-established risk factors for suicide and were identified by our networks located in cities, regional and remote areas alike," he said.
"We have all been affected to some degree, but it is those who are most vulnerable in our country who are hardest hit and will experience the negative impacts of this crisis long after the majority of our society has recovered."
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