Warning: The following article contains references to suicide, which may distress some readers.
Suicide rates in Western Australia's Kimberley region remain among the highest in the world, with Aboriginal communities bearing the overwhelming burden, according to research published in the Medical Journal of Australia.
Studies indicate Aboriginal people in the Kimberley die by suicide at rates several times higher than both the national average and the broader Indigenous population, pointing to a crisis that has persisted for more than a decade.
Free suicide prevention workshops will be held in Broome later this month, aimed at strengthening support for Aboriginal people experiencing mental distress and the communities around them.
Delivered by Lifeline WA, the sessions will equip participants with practical skills to recognise signs of distress, and how to respond safely to someone during a mental health crisis.
The training includes the Talking About Suicide program, developed specifically to support Aboriginal communities in the Kimberley, where demand for culturally appropriate mental health care remains high.
Lifeline WA chief executive, Lorna MacGregor, said the workshops were shaped through consultation with Aboriginal health organisations to ensure they reflect local needs.
"Through consultation with Derbarl Yerrigan Aboriginal Health Service and McNeair Aboriginal Psychological Services, we have designed tailored suicide prevention training sessions," she said.
"Communities are often the first to notice when someone is struggling, and the first to step in. These workshops are about giving local people the knowledge, confidence and cultural grounding to respond when it matters most.
"When we strengthen community awareness around mental health and crisis support, we can help ensure people know where to turn for help when they need it."
The workshops form part of a broader partnership with WA Primary Health Alliance, which also includes Lifeline WA's Aboriginal Ambassador Program.
Under the program, representatives from Broome Regional Aboriginal Medical Service will be trained to deliver community awareness sessions across the Kimberley, helping extend support beyond formal services.
