By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
A CASEY woman whose younger brother took his own life two years ago has launched a petition to make it mandatory for all Victorian high school teachers to undertake mental health first aid training.
Fawn Brady lost her 23-year-old brother and closest companion, Kane, in February 2013 after his battle with depression, and has been campaigning ever since to prevent further tragedies.
In August of the same year Fawn, 27, set up Kane’s Crusade with best friend Jess White, a depression support and awareness group specialising in, but not restricted to, helping young men.
This month the pair officially launched a petition they hope to deliver to State Parliament which will call for new laws forcing all secondary school teachers to undertake Applied Suicide Intervention Skill Training (ASIST).
Fawn, who along with Jess has completed the ASIST program, said the training was aimed at teaching people to look after those who were reaching “crisis point”.
“We ourselves did the ASIST training through Windermere, and in that room there were a lot of police officers and psychologists that were doing the training in regard to suicide intervention,” she said.
“Then we went into some of the local secondary schools in Casey and felt more could be done.
“The training is to help people right at that crisis point.
“We find a lot of people have been trained in dealing with post-suicide situations, but there are not enough services for teachers to be equipped with the skills to help someone who is suicidal.”
Participants in the two-day ASIST workshop learn to recognise when somebody may be at risk of suicide and respond in ways that help to increase their immediate safety and allow them to receive further help.
Fawn and Jess, who met as teenagers at Berwick Secondary College, need the petition to be signed and hope to have 50,000 signatures by Easter to present to a state MP to table in Victorian Parliament.
After visiting various Casey schools to discuss the issue, Jess said she was astounded by how many high school teachers had not completed any mental health first aid training.
“I think it’s a bit ludicrous that it’s not compulsory for these teachers to do it,” Jess said.
“They are with these kids more than their parents are and they can pick up on the signs.
“I think it is vital, at the end of the day it could save a life.”
To receive a copy of the petition, email Fawn and Jess at kanescrusade@gmail.com.
For more information, visit www.kanescrusade.net.
Those in need of immediate assistance, or who need to talk to someone they can trust, can phone Lifeline on 13 11 14.
