About LifeForce Suicide Prevention
LifeForce Vision and Objectives
Vision Statement
To be a leading suicide prevention program that educates, empowers and resources communities in a sustainable and ethical way.
Objectives
Educating
- Knowledge with practical strategies
- Understanding of suicidal ideation
- Knowledge to help identify those at risk
- Skills in how to approach a person who is experiencing thoughts of suicide
- Development of active listening skills
- Learn about using intervention strategies in your community
Empowering
- Enhance confidence in handling crisis situations
Resourcing
- Learn basic strategies useful is detecting warning signs, listening and taking appropriate action
- Identification of resources in your local community
- Involve, where possible area mental health to equip participants with local service knowledge.
LifeForce Achievements
We are proud of what we have achieved thus far, and thank many community members and organizations for making these achievements possible:
- Since 2002 LifeForce has trained over 8000 people through the LifeForce Suicide Prevention Workshops.
- In 2006 over 1000 people attended LifeForce Suicide Awareness Workshops/Seminars
- The annual LifeForce Suicide Prevention Memorial Service held at the Sydney Opera House has drawn the attention of thousands to the tragedy of suicide and allowed those bereaved by suicide to appropriately grieve their loss.
LifeForce Programs
LifeForce programs are aimed at training community members from all walks of life to know what to do in a time of suicidal crisis, appropriately and confidently.
The Lifeforce Suicide Prevention Program was established in 1995 by Reverend Bob Dunlop of Wesley Mission as a response to the growing number of suicides in Australia. The program was initially known as "Hearing the Cry" and it aimed at training community members from all walks of life to know what to do in a time of suicidal crisis, appropriately and confidently.
The program is part of the National Suicide Prevention Strategy.
LifeForce Funding
LifeForce is an activity of Wesley Mission and like most of the Mission's programs, it depends on corporate support and sponsorship, donations from philanthropic organisations, government funding and donations from the general public.
Corporate Support:
A number of companies have offered their valuable and generous support of LifeForce. We are grateful for the support of:
Government Funding:
We have received funding from government at federal level. The Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing has given LifeForce funding for a further three years to carry out a more comprehensive evaluation of the effectiveness of its workshops and seminars.
Donations:
While LifeForce receives some financial support through annual Wesley Mission appeals, the ongoing generosity of the wider community can also help to make a difference. Donations will assist LifeForce to reach and educate more people in the community about how to recognise the signs and respond appropriately. If you would like to make a donation to support the work of the program, please contact the LifeForce office.
Other LifeForce Partners
Partnerships have also been formed with other organisations which provide further opportunities for LifeForce to expand its Program into communities around Australia. For example, Nexia Court & Co, Country Women's Association (CWA) and Interrelate, Beyond Blue, and Greater Building Society.
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