How to make Canberra Suicide Free by 2033

Running for Resilience (R4R) is now a not-for-profit with the goal of a suicide free ACT by 2033.

Each year, about 60 people take their life in the ACT. Which is 60 too many.

It’s daunting to think about saving all those lives. But I've seen and heard how the R4R community is already making a difference.

And although a suicide-free Canberra is not probable, it is possible.

Which means we should give it a red hot crack, because even if we save one more life, it’ll be worth all the effort.

There’s no playbook for we’re trying to do, so we have to figure things out as we go.

But here’s how I think we can make Canberra suicide-free:

1. Get 140,000 Canberrans to complete mental health first aid training.

It’s unrealistic to expect everyone in Canberra to join running groups, even though we know their great for physical and mental health.

Fortunately, I don’t think we don’t need to.

Just like CPR and defibrillators have reduced heart attack deaths, we can save lives by helping a large portion of Canberra to get Mental Health First Aid training, who can then better support themselves and those around them.

If most Canberrans can:

- Spot someone who’s struggling (or themselves)

- And convince them to seek professional help

I think we’ll save many lives.

And research shows that when 25% of a population adopts something, it then becomes the norm as the rest eventually join in. So long as the training is fun and accessible.

So with Canberra's population expected to be 550,000 by 2033, 25% is 137,500. So, let's aim for 140,000, which is achievable in 9 years if we start now.

2. Normalise seeking help.

NRL coach Tim Sheens said:

“It’s not mental health, but the failure to seek help that can be devastating.''

This resonates with me because I struggled most when I thought it was weak to get help.

But seeing a psychologist helped me identify negative thought patterns I had (like ruminating), and gave me tools to deal with them.

And as a community, the more of us that open up about the times we got help, the more others realise that it's normal, and nothing to be ashamed of.

Which hopefully will lead to more people getting and accepting help.

Everyone has rough patches and NO ONE has all the answers.

3. Share stories of struggle

Breeny and I have been told multiple times that R4R has helped save someone’s life, which fuels our belief that a suicide-free ACT is possible.

But just us two believing it is not enough. We need more people to believe that it's possible and worth pursuing.

To do that, we need more people sharing their stories about how they’ve overcome struggles. Stories like Deana’s.

Not only will that build belief, but the vulnerability from sharing stories like that help form genuine friendships, because people feel they can relate to and trust each other more.

I think the average person has more ‘connections’ than ever, which sadly, we often value over deep, supportive friendships.

My time with the Brumbies was filled with great friends who always had my back, and finding that kind of support in retirement has been tough.

But Breeny (and others) have become those kind of friends to me, which is why I feel so committed to the goal of R4R.

Now, we need to help more people feel the same when they rock up on a Wednesday night.

4. Have fun.

Making Canberra suicide-free will take time, and we risk burning out if we don’t enjoy the journey.

And Breeny and I have nearly burned out a few times.

But as long as we have fun along the way (like the City2Surf trip - tickets on sale now) and celebrate our successes (Birthday Party and Gala), I'm confident we'll have the energy to keep going.

So, if we:

1. Help 140,000 Canberrans get Mental Health First Aid Training
2. Normalise seeking help
3. Share stories of overcoming struggle
4. And have fun along the way...

I think we're a shot of achieving what we've set out to do.

But what do you think? See any holes in the plan? What do you think needs doing to make Canberra suicide-free?