Learning the signs of suicide

HIS father’s suicide has prompted a Geelong-based mental health advocate to urge residents to take part in a special first-aid course.

Kelly Dubberley, a health, safety and wellbeing adviser with Barwon Water, completed genU Training’s two-day Mental Health First Aid course, which teaches participants to identify symptoms of disabling mental health problems, how to provide firsthand assistance, and how to get professional help.

The 38-year-old said the course could have helped save his father’s life four years ago.

In the lead up to the suicide, Mr Dubberley’s father began calling him several times a week.

“(Dad) asked me when I was coming home which I thought was strange as I’d already told him in the previous phone calls in the same week,” Mr Dubberley said. “Three days after that he called again, and pretty well mirrored the last conversation we’d previously had.”

One week after the phone calls Mr Dubberley’s father committed suicide by drinking alloy wash acid and could not be saved de- spite being rushed to the hospital.

“I found out the next day that Dad had been diagnosed with depression and one of his medications had a ... side effect which may give you suicidal tendencies,” Mr Dubberley said.

“I requested to do the course for the simple fact that it was a personal journey for me, to try and stick the puzzle pieces together in my life,” he said.

Mental health first-aid instructor Julie Haddock said the course gave people permission to stop “wearing masks” at work and empowered them to find confidence in their conversation.