Content Warning: This article discusses self-harm and suicide.
As many First Nations families grapple with the loss of loved ones to suicide, it's hoped a new targeted intervention training program will help reduce the number of our people taking their own lives.
uses a 'first aid' approach to educate family, friends and community members with the tools to intervene when someone is struggling or in crisis.
The University of Queensland's Dr Maree Toombs collaborated with LivingWorks Australia, a suicide prevention organisation, to set up the program.
She said the focus is on educating and empowering everyone to talk about confronting and distressing issues.
"I'm really talking about grassroots mob — aunties and uncles and brothers and sisters that live in these communities," she said.
"It really speaks to ways that we do culture. Our culture is about connecting to each other. It's about hearing story and deep listening and it's about support."
The program says it gives people practical and culturally-appropriate tools to know how to help someone in crisis or at risk of self-harm.
Dr Toombs said this is vital.
"This is about empowering communities and self-determination to take control of this situation"
I-ASIST has been trialed in almost a hundred communities from across the country over five years.
The program hopes to train at least 50 First Nations people within communities to deliver the suicide first aid skills and open an Indigenous suicide prevention centre.
The I-Assist program will arm family and friends with the tools to safely intervene if someone is in crisis. Source: AAP
Nation's 'most urgent challenge'
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities face much higher rates of suicide than the general population.
Recent data by the Australian Bureau of Statistics reveal a nearly four per cent increase in suicides, despite that figure declining for the wider community.
Minister for Indigenous Australians, Ken Wyatt spoke at the virtual launch of I-ASIST on Wednesday along with suicide prevention advocates, health experts and politicians.
He said it was critical that governments and communities worked together to bring down the rates of suicide experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
"The fact that Indigenous people are dying by suicide at twice the rate of other Australians is one of the most complex and urgent challenges we face as a nation.
Indigenous Australians Minister Ken Wyatt said reducing suicide in Indigenous communities is one of the most urgent challenges facing the country. Source: AAP
"We will need to use every tool at our disposal to have a substantial impact."
Mr Wyatt said the commonwealth is investing in mental health and suicide funding at record levels in Indigenous communities with $80 million being earmarked for First Nations mental health and suicide prevention services.
Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact: Lifeline on 13 11 14, the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 or find an . There are resources for young people at .
