Parliament House Canberra ACT 2602
Telephone 02 6277 7820 Facsimile 02 6273 4140
The Hon Alan Griffin MP
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs
VA081
Wednesday, 9 September 2009
MORE SUICIDE PREVENTION WORKSHOPS FOR VETERAN COMMUNITY
On the eve of World Suicide Prevention Day, the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Alan Griffin, is
encouraging more of the veteran and ex-service community to take advantage of the expansion in
the number of suicide prevention workshops available to them.
The Australian Government’s VVCS – Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service has
increased the number of free Operation Life suicide prevention workshops for people who are
concerned about family, friends, mates or others in the veteran and ex-service community.
“So far 119 participants have been trained in suicide prevention strategies at workshops over the
past three months and I encourage more people in the veteran and ex-service community to register
their interest in attending,” Mr Griffin said.
Operation Life is a strategy to prevent suicide and promote good mental health and resilience
across the veteran community. Its major components include workshops providing introductory,
intensive and refresher courses in suicide prevention. Welfare, pension officers and others from
ex-service organisations and the veteran community are encouraged to attend.
Mr Griffin said World Suicide Prevention Day provided an ideal opportunity to promote the
Government’s work in suicide prevention and mental health, especially for veterans.
“The Government made a commitment to enhance suicide prevention and it has done this by
expanding Operation Life and providing an additional $9.5 million to implement the
recommendations made following a major study by Professor David Dunt into suicide in the
ex-service community.
“This is in addition to the Government’s commitment of $83 million over four years to address gaps
identified in mental health care in the ADF and transition through discharge,” Mr Griffin said.
“Operation Life workshops are not treatment programs but are designed to help members of the
veteran community to recognise someone who might be having thoughts of suicide and to link them
in with appropriate help.”
To find out more about Operation Life workshops, contact VVCS on 1800 011 046 (during normal
business hours) or visit www.at-ease.dva.gov.au.
World Suicide Prevention Day is held on 10 September each year to promote worldwide
commitment and action to prevent suicide.
Media inquiries: Sasha Nimmo 0437 863 109
The VVCS – Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service can be contacted 24 hours a day, seven days a
week on 1800 011 046.To receive the Minister’s media releases automatically by email subscribe at
minister.dva.gov.au/subscribe.htm
NEWS 
