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White Wreath Association Inc.
ABN : 66 592 492 997
Action Against Suicide
HEAD OFFICE: PO Box 1078 Browns Plains BC QLD 4118
Web : www.whitewreath.com Email : white.wreath@bigpond.com
Ph: 07 3219 7279 Fax 07 3219 8148 Mobile: 0410 526 562
DIRECTORS REPORT NOVEMBER 2004
Recently we came in contact with three women. The first torches herself with a flame to the extent requiring skin grafts. The second slashes her arm with a sharp knife and the third slashes her body with a razor blade. These people are determined/assessed as attention seeking, personality disordered, self harm etc.
It is common practice - the rule rather than the exception for psychiatrists in Australia and New Zealand to give dual and multiple diagnosis (attention seeking, self harm, personality disordered etc) using the most convenient diagnosis to get rid of difficult patients. Hence the high suicide rate.
We were asked for input into the “Guidelines for the Management of Patients with Suicidal Behaviour or Risk. The Qld Government acknowledged our recommendations and had taken them into consideration (Posted on our website under “Correspondence Link”). In producing the final document. Below is an extract of our recommendations: -
1a. All patients should have a full physiological/neurologic examination, not
just a "mental health assessment," "psycho-social assessment" and "risk assessment". For eg scars, burn marks and frequent cut/slash marks are noticed on the patients skin and the patients say they have never self harmed/attempted suicide it is tempting to say they are hiding/lying-attention seeking, personality disorders etc etc. The truth may well be that the patient is in fact very ambivalent about their self-harming behaviour. At one interview they will admit that they will self-harm at an other interview they will deny that they will self-harm.
1b. The fact that they can burn or cut themselves without pain is a feature of both localised reduction in pain sensation and disturbance of the limbic/serotonergic of the central nervous system (ie. the brain)
At present the tendency is for professionals to interpret signs of self-harm as wilful attention seeking by manipulative antisocial personality disordered patients. Rejection by the mental health system leads to further suicide attempts and a high-completed suicide rate. The fact is any mental illness from anorexia to schizophrenia can involve self-harm/self destructive behaviour.
A single death is a tragedy; a million deaths is a statistic
--Joseph Stalin
Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is to not stop questioning.
--Albert Einstein
Help us to help you.
Fanita Clark
President
THE VIEWS AND OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THIS NEWSLETTER ARE NOT NECESSARULY THE VIEWS OF THE WHITE WREATH ASSOCIATION INC®
Index Self-Storage, Zupps Hillcrest-Roger Farrell, Browns Plains Hotel, Mainfreight-David Kingdon, ANZ Cash Management and Transaction Services Melbourne Victoria, Australian Rugby Union Wallabies Team, Bunnings Pty Ltd - Underwood Qld, Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum, Club B.J Macgregor Fitness Centre Qld., Birch, Carroll & Coyle, Australian Multiplex Cinemas, Wet'n'Wild, Tropical Fruit World, Infinity Gold Coast P/L, Straddie Views Bed & Breakfast-Jan & Peter Deaville, Sea Stradbroke Ferries-Car and Passenger Ferries, Kingston Park Raceway Qld, Newtons Electrics, Stefan Hair Fashions, Wallace Bishop Jewellers, Lone Pine Koala Sanctury, Merle Hammill - Logan Central, Ruth Avenell - Logan Central, The Aviation Institute of Qld, Essendon Football Club AFL - Melbourne Victoria, West Coast Eagles AFL Subiaco Perth WA, Geelong Football Club AFL - Geelong Victoria, Lowood State High School, Straddie Kingfisher Tours Qld - Dave Thelander, Bunnings Pty Ltd - Capalaba Qld, Harvey Norman - Morayfield Qld, Coorparoo RSL & Services Memorial Club Inc, Earnshaw State College Qld - for kind donation, Golden Circle Live Shop Qld, Logan Diggers - Logan and District Services Club Qld, Dockside Comedy Bar Qld, Office of Fair Trading - for holding a “Casual Dress Day” and raising funds for us., Healthy Slimmers Fellowship Support Group, Bob Jane T-Marts Melbourne Vic, Pizza Hut - Yum Restaurants Australia Pty Ltd, Michael's Oriental Restaurant Eight Mile Plains Qld for their continual support, Stephen's Waterless Car Wash Detailing System, Subway - Browns Plains, Subway - Loganholme, Carina Leagues Club Ltd, Augello's Ristorante & Pizzeria - New Farm Qld, McDonald's - Springwood, Shirley Fellows - Secretary Hon Arch Bevis, Aviva Billington - Chevron Island, Amalgamated Confectionery Wholesalers Pty Ltd - Springwood, Toni's Restaurant - Mt Gravatt Central,
A special “Thank You” must go to our webmistress Melodie. It took us nearly three years to find such a capable and dedicated person. Melodie has done a wonderful job re-designing our website and has put in many hours/weeks voluntarily in helping us. Not only did she spend many hours on our website she also organised a White Wreath Day - In Remembrance of All Victims of Suicide in Darwin NT on 29 May 2004. We are very grateful.
We would also like to acknowledge with grateful “Thanks” to the Gambling Community Benefit Fund of $5000 towards the buying of new computer, software packages, printer and scanner
Wish List:
Car Mechanic Local Brisbane Area:-
In the past we have paid for mechanical repairs however it has come to the point where we feel the prices we are paying are hugely excessive. If there is anyone out there (honest) that may like to volunteer his or her services on a once a year basis to service our car we would greatly appreciate any assistance.
A4 Envelopes DL EnvelopesCopy PaperPaper ClipsVolunteers Australia/wide (contact our Head Office for details)OR YOU MAY LIKE TO DONATE:
Via our credit card facility posted on our website www.whitewreath.com then follow the instruction.Directly into any Commonwealth Bank Account Name White Wreath Association Inc BSB No 06 4184 Account No 10253519 Cheque/Money Order to White Wreath Association Inc and mailed to PO Box 1078 Browns Plains Qld 4118
You must be The change you wish to see in the world. : Ghandhi
Straddie Kingfisher Tours invites you to join us on our 4wd Eco Tour of North Stradbroke Island.
For $85.00 per adult or $50.00 per child we explore this Island Paradise for a full 6 hours.
We start at Cleveland at 0900am and are back at Cleveland at 4.00pm.
Included in this package:
Return water taxi to and from Straddie
Aussie damper and a cuppa at one of the freshwater lakes
You can swim, fish (rods and bait are supplied free) or simply relax, collect shells
Our famous BBQ on the beach (steak, sausage, salad, pineapple, homemade bread, fruit juice)
North Gorge walk (dolphins, turtles, manta rays)
Flora and Fauna
Expert commentary
When booking please say "White Wreath" and we will donate 10% of the full price to this wonderful Association.
Tours run daily. Please ring Dave or Margy on 3409 9502.
Thank you once again and I hope this will prove to be a winner.
Warm Regards,
Dave Thelander
Manager
Straddie Kingfisher Tours
5 Guy Crescent
Dunwich QLD 4183
Ph: 07-3409 9502
Fax: 07-3409 9504
Mob: 0409 123 586
FROM WWA CONCERNING THE DEBACLE IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA
White Wreath Australia supports the concerns of the Chairperson Frances Nelson QC over the run down of the Mental Health System and the use of jails as Mental Hospitals.
In 1960 there were 35,000 beds (medium and long term beds). The population has doubled so the bed rate should now be 70,000.
There are now no medium and long-term beds in Australia.
I know from my personal experience how hard it is to get a loved one admitted to hospital when they desperately need care to save their lives.
Suicide is the only medical emergency where people are routinely refused care or discharged inappropriately after only a few hours or days.
Suicide/mental illness should be Neville Ranns Number 1(one) priority.
We know of cases where people have presented themselves at emergencies of mental health and as a result of not been taken seriously four or more lives have been lost.
Yours sincerely
Fanita Clark
President
Senator's tearful plea helps pass suicide bill.
By Joanne Kenen 9/7/2004
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - For a few moments on Thursday, the only sounds in the U.S. Senate chamber were the sobs of a grieving father.
Oregon Republican Gordon Smith took the floor to introduce a youth suicide prevention bill named after his dead son. With unusual speed, the Senate unanimously passed the measure within hours.
“He saw only despair ahead and felt only pain in his present. Pain and despair so potent that he sought suicide as a release. As a release,” Smith said, recalling his son, Garrett, who killed himself in his college apartment last September, one day before his 22nd birthday.
Smith recalled a “beautiful child, a handsome baby boy” that he and his wife Sharon adopted a few days after birth. He had vast intellectual gifts but struggled with learning disabilities, dyslexia, and bipolar disorder, sometimes called manic depression, Smith said.
There is “no owner's manual to help you bury a child, especially when the cause is suicide,” he said.
The Senate chamber was nearly empty when Smith began to speak. But by the time he had finished, several colleagues had lined up to embrace him, and two rose to tell of the suicides of their fathers.
Nevada Democrat Harry Reid recalled attending Garrett's funeral and hearing everyone speak openly about the suicide. After his own father shot himself, Reid said, he was too ashamed to discuss it for years.
If a bill like Smith's had been in effect when his father was a young man, Reid said, “my dad may not have had all the problems that he had as he proceeded through life.”
Oklohoma Republican Don Nickles then rose to say his father too had killed himself.
I'm not going to go into the details,” he said, “but it's a lot of pain.
“I have no doubt as a result of us passing this legislation, we'll end up saving a lot of lives, maybe thousands of lives,” Nickles said.
The $60 million bill, which the U.S. House of Representatives has not yet taken up, would help states develop prevention strategies and would fund more mental health services on college campuses.
More than 30,000 Americans kill themselves each year, and suicide is the third-leading cause of death for people aged 10-24.
New Mexico Republican Pete Domenici, who has been public about his daughter's schizophrenia, had gone home early but threw on a suit and dashed back to the Senate to sympathise with Smith.
Domenici said he would make another push for the bill he has advocated for years that would require health insurers to treat serious mental illness the same way they treat physical illness.
He also lashed out at fellow Republicans who had anonymously used a procedural move t o block it.
“I don't know who you are yet,' said Domenici, “but I'll find out.”
A Personal Journey by Pam Burke
Like everyone else on this planet my life experiences have placed me in my own unique place. At this point of my life I am shaped by my personality, my DNA (my inheritance from my ancestors), the environment in which I have lived and the people I have met and interacted with along the way.
My mother experienced so called “psychotic” episodes in her life after the sudden death of her beloved father. My mother was treated several times in psychiatric hospitals with shock treatment over the next twenty years. By the end of her full life of seventy-four years she had become a very spiritually aware woman who had come to see her psychiatric illness as a blessing in disguise. She became aware of the spiritual element in her life and was able to use it to see the steps she needed to take to get her life on track. I must stress here that by spiritual I do not mean religious. I mean the inner “knowing” that you have God's inner wisdom within and there are means to access this wisdom.
My sister experienced her so-called “psychotic” episode after the birth of her daughter sixteen years ago. Although my mother tried to impart what she had learned my sister who was extremely mentally, emotionally and spiritually confused took the advice of the rest of the family and her doctors and started taking psychiatric medication. Sixteen years later after several suicide attempts and many psychiatric admittances her thinking is still clouded in a haze of medication. Her progress has been slow although I do acknowledge her right to do it her way.
My middle daughter started having her first so called “psychotic” episodes after becoming heavily involved in illegal drug use seven years ago. She had been sexually abused as a child (about five years old) and had been unable to tell anyone or deal with it in any way. Consequently her life started going out of control almost immediately. As her mother I could make no sense of her erratic behaviour and when it had finally spiralled out of control when she was fifteen, I took her to her first psychiatrist after her first of many suicide attempts. Six years of psychiatric medication followed, combined with a marijuana habit she had developed at age twelve. At twenty-one she became involved in the drug scene and a horrendous emotional, mental and spiritual journey commenced for her and her family. Over the following three years she had twenty psychiatric admittances and three stints in drug rehab. At age twenty-four at a stage of utter hopelessness she stood in front of a train at Kuraby station.
Two years before her death I also experienced my first so-called “psychotic” episode following the stress of my daughters condition. I was fifty years of age. Because I had seen several different ways of dealing with this indescribable fear phenomena of “psychosis” I steered clear of drug treatment. I tried psychotherapy, counselling and acupuncture. I know now that I was spiritually lead down that path and am most grateful for that. Over the past six years I have dealt with the tragic death of my darling daughter and the betrayal of my best friend's husband who had sexually abused my daughter. I have come to terms with the disbelief of my family and friends of the cause of my daughter's distress. My husband and I also raise the one-year-old grand daughter my daughter left behind. I have been able to accept my daughter's journey and forgive the man who betrayed my daughter. I have reached a deep understanding about sexual abuse. I have re established loving ties with my family (after much continuing angst). I am blessed daily with the knowledge I am raising my daughter's child so she can live the life my daughter was unable to live.
How has this happened?
To Be Continued..............
EMAILS
I came across some references to your association on the web, but your website seems to be not operational. Are you still functioning, & do you have an arm in Sydney.
If you're able, would you be able to send me some information, please - either by email to this address, or to my work address:
Thanks,
I've been able to get onto the website today. Some of the stories pulled my heart apart.
I have a client who's looking for group for survivors of suicide - I'm sure she'll find your group very interesting.
Regards,
I haven't been able to call u since I got out... cos first of all... I forgot, then I was busy today driving my friends around... sorry.
But anyway. I came out Tuesday arvo and I've been taking things easily. Since I have to work tomorrow from 7am till 3.30pm I won't be able to call you. So I thought I'll send you this email just to let you know that I am ok. Thank you.
I'm off antidepressant for a while and I want to get back to life and using my own free will and inner strength to pull me through. The doctor that I saw in Redlands hospital said it's ok if I don't want to start my medication (she's given me a new antidepressant prescription).
Anyway. I hope I didn't miss out too much on Monday and Tuesday. Honestly I still want to help.
Talk soon!
I would like to apply for volunteer work with your organisation, if there is any position available. Could please contact me.
Thank you
I would be very interested in volunteering with your organisation. I have had experience with depressed and suicidal people through my work with the .. …… Assoc. Inc. I presented a paper at the 2003 Community Mental Health Forum on the topic of consumers as carers. My own experience with depression and suicide would be invaluable to your organisation as I have been there from both sides and I am able to empathise with those suffering. Please consider me for any position within your organisation. I look forward to your reply
Dear sir/madam
I was contemplating suicide between October of last year and January of this year. I no longer feel suicidal at the moment, though have been recent occasions when thoughts of suicide emerge in my mind. Deep down in my heart, I know that I don't want to kill myself, but I still feel such depths of despair at times. Which is why I'm asking for your help.
A large part of the reason for my suicidal depression is a skeleton in my closet. Twice in December 2001 and once in July 2002, I visited a brothel. I was drunk, bored and stupid, but that was how it happened. I feel a strong sense of guilt and shame over what I did, as well as a very low sense of self-esteem over it.
I really want to rebuild my life, and in a sense, I think things are shaping up (I'm beginning a PhD, I've found a girlfriend, my photography etc.), but there are times when I still feel such a strong sense of shame and guilt over what I did in the past, that there are times when I wonder if I should commit suicide as a form of redeeming myself. I'll like to know what you think - because of the thing about brothels, should I commit suicide (what the low-self-esteem in me is saying), or should I seek to live, and by living, redeem myself spiritually and emotionally from my past (the optimist in me speaking).
I'll like to know what you think, please reply soon
Best regards
Anonymous
Hi my name is …. and I live in a small rural town called …..in ……. We have just a huge tragedy in our small town a young out going man shot himself on the weekend. all of us are still coming to terms with it. But I have been doing some research in this town and found
over the years that we have had a large amount of suicides. It seems people think they are helping but there really is nothing.
I am basically writing to ask if you have any ideas on how to change this from happening to so many people. I was very close to this young man and I very happy to help in any ideas you may come up with.
Thank you
My name is C………….,
you don't know me, although I did make contact with you a few months ago and my Mum did meet you at a shopping centre a couple of months ago.
My Dad suicided in April and his sister also suicided in January this year. That's when I first came across your organization. I'm sure you hear time and time again what a wonderful organization it is. But what astounds me is the amount of courage you have to not only set up the White Wreath Association but to continue running it in such a successful manner. When people are affected by suicide, many want to help create awareness and stop it form occurring in other families. But I'm sure only very few are actually able to do this. It's not because the others are lazy or don't care, but it's a difficult thing to do, to confront something and explore it rather than run from it. It makes it even more difficult when society as a whole doesn't want to know about it.
I had an opportunity to confront the issue when I was asked to do an interview on my Dad's suicide. Even that was difficult. Although I had admired the paper for tackling the issue in such a bold way, when the tables turned to me it did take courage to step forward and speak out, I have enclosed a copy of the article for you, although, the article was not warmly accepted by my Dad's family. I felt it was important to speak out and use the media attention surrounding my Dad's death in a positive way.
I really would like to be of assistance to you and the White Wreath Association. Although, I am far from an expert I am studying Public Relations and so might be able to offer my writing or speaking skills if needed any time. However, life remains hectic at the moment, I'm off to Sydney tomorrow, finishing up my old job, starting a new one and also studying full time. So I thought maybe I could contact you when uni finishes at the start of November. I will have a lot more time on my hands then.
Once again thank you for having the courage to make a real difference. You are an inspiration to survivors of suicide everywhere.
King Regards
C……….
I am writing to offer my services as a volunteer within your organisation.
I have personally experienced suicide. My father took his life almost 16 years ago. He was a gambler who could obviously see no way out. He left my mother and three children behind (I was 6 at the time). I have come through
the other side although not a day goes by where I don't think about him and the incredible pain he must have been going through.
As a child, having to deal with this reality was difficult. What to say to friends? How to answer questions? The stigma... The list goes on.
I have been pondering over the idea of volunteering with such an organisation for some time now and just tonight decided to actually do something about it. If I could make just one person's experience easier
than my own, well...
I am happy to do anything. I have had a look around your website and you seem to do an awful lot for this cause. I would love to help in any way possible.
Please do not hesitate to contact me or by returning my email at this address. I live in ………… am studying at university.
Kind Regards
Firstly allow me to introduce myself. My name is ……..
I am a 29 year old woman living in Perth WA. My father suffered with depression and killed himself by taking an overdose on May 29 1989, he was 39 years old. I was 14 years of age, and the impact of his death has affected, impacted and shaped the last 15 years of my life. I struggled for many years with the unanswered questions and to come to terms with the trauma of what had occurred. It was only after unending support from my family, years of counselling and finally finding my soul again could I cope and move on with my life.
As I was preparing to visit my father's grave on yet another anniversay on May 29 this year, when I caught only a glimpse of a newspaper article in the West Australian about White Wreath Day. Then, by chance on route to to the cemetary, we passed the Cathedral on St Georges Terrace, Perth where the memorial service was being held. Unfortunately, I was unable to stop and attend, but since that day I have thought many times about your organisation and the coincidence of the date of the memorial.
I have often struggled with what my purpose in life might be, and that in some way what happened to my father and subsequently to myself and my family could be used in a positive way to help others. Tonight I visited your website, cried another ocean and decided to send you this email.
I would like to become involved with your organisation and volunteer some of my spare time in any capacity I may be of help. I look forward to hearing back from you and hope there is some way I can help the White Wreath Association.
Kindest regards,
Hi,
I came across your website tonite while doing my weekly search for information concerning suicides caused by Efexor.
So I thought I would write to add another statistic to your site.
Our son aged 24 cmmitted suicide on the 26th March 2004 after taking an overdose of Efexor which he was taking for depression. He took about a total of 4.7grms no other drugs or alchahol were involved and he died at 2.20 pm on the 27th at Tweed Heads Hospital. His dosage the week before had been changed and this is what caused the suicidal thoughts and actions. We are still waiting for the final coroners report, and we will be having meetings with Drs etc from Murwillumbah hospital to try and find out why he died as every one you speak to say that you don't die from efexor. If you would like any further info feel free to get in touch.
Regards
28/6/2005 Unknown Nice site
2/7/2004 Unknown Became aware of your page through a parent - who I am yet to meet. I am an educational consultant working throughout Australia in the area of Social Skilling in schools with teacher and parents-cannot give you enough praise for the work you are doing - know only too well how important this topic is for our youth and teachers. Have printed off the membership form and will process in the next week or so. Would love to help by advertising your web page as we work throughout the different states. Continue the great work. Yours in teaching and keeping our kids safe. Note the email address from which this is sent is not my email address. Presently on holidays and using a friends computer
21/7/2004 Kalangadoo South Australia I lost a friend to suicide at the beginning of 2003. Having such a fantastic association such as the white wreath I think is a great idea to remembering those who may have lost and to have suicide recognised to those who are not so familiar.
18/8/2004 USA Excellent Website! Regards
2/9/2004 Melbourne WOW. What a fantastic site. So much information. I am a Uni student and this was a one stop shop. Some of it brought tears to my eyes. I applaud you guys and keep up the good work. It is important that these tragedies and as I read unnecessary tragedies is brought to everyone's attention.
24/9/2004 Qld My 27 year old good looking young smart healthy brother-in-law killed himself 6 weeks ago July 2004. If I had known the things I know about suicide now he may still be alive. (we don't really know) Your site is very informative and I want to tell everyone this is a very real problem. I hear today that another 27 year old from our town killed himself. I feel for his family. The anger and blame we have can not bring him back, or any of our loved ones. We can however remember the good things about them and do something positive to help others. Visiting this site is my first step to help. Email me if I can help in any way..
…Well my story begins about the time I met a popular fixture of various Valley haunts, a guy by the name of Dave - nicknamed `Disco Dave' by the majority, owing to his fondness for painting his finger & toe nails outrageously bright & shiny colours, his `op shop' style, his D.J.ing ability, and his ability to endlessly socialize with his extensive network of friends & associates in `the scene'. I met Dave (who I would never call Disco Dave, out of respect as he loathes it) while grooving on the dance floor at the `Beat' nightclub in Fortitude Valley which had become a regular venue for Tanya (my housemate at the time) and my twice or three times a week night out. Dave & I hit it off from the word go. We spoke for 5 minutes before we had acknowledged in each other a shared interest - shooting up speed. I had begun shooting up a few months prior to meeting Dave, but had only been supplied with cut (with glucose usually) speed and was only using once or twice a week. Dave introduced me to base, otherwise known as pure. By the time the speed got to Dave (and in the same form to me) it had usually been cut once or twice in the ratio of 1:1 per cut.
Sometimes mostly (after we had met Max) we would get pure Chrystal Methamphetamine, which also had various potency levels depending on cooking variables etc. I began having a relationship with Dave almost straight away. I was very attracted (and remain so to this day) to his uniqueness and ability to shrug off a world that, at large, did not (& does not) agree, and in fact shuns, his chosen lifestyle. I thought he had balls, not to mention brains. A university educated guy, he takes pleasure in speaking to others in `the scene' about his philosophies on life. When I refer to `the scene' I mean `the valley scene' which consists mostly of speed junkies, ecstasy users, the odd LSD tripper and an occasional alcohol consumer. Harry users (heroin junkies) are, as a general rule, too spaced out & incoherent to have the want or ability to go out dancing. The night I met Dave we almost immediately went back to his apartment in New Farm, a 20-25 min walk or 5 min drive, (the option we chose to take) up the road. There he either shouted (or maybe I paid for it, I can't remember) my first point of base. I automatically became infatuated with this new, improved shot and since then have never turned back.
To be continued……
MASTER PRACTIONER & THERAPIST OF NEURO……
Many of us have some aspects of our lives that are not working as we would like, & we may even feel a lack of control.
My role as a qualified Master Practitioner & Therapist of Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP), Time Line Therapy© & Master Hypnotherapist is to provide you with simple tools that can be used to assist you in gently transforming those parts of your life, that you may find most difficult. Providing you with empowerment & confidence in your own abilities.
The secret to how these techniques works is an understanding that many of the things we do is a result of learned behaviour that has been effectively programmed into our subconscious, often from a very early age. every second, from controlling all your bodily functions to your emotions, reactions & behaviours.
In much the same way as a computer program can be updated or changed to produce a different outcome so can your mind be updated or reprogrammed to give us the results or behaviours we desire.
This is achieved through numerous, gentle & painless techniques that work with your own values & belief systems that have made you who you are today.
These revolutionary new techniques are at the forefront of modern behavioural science and have achieved extraordinary results in very short periods of time, usually within several therapy sessions.
In a very real sense you are the one that does all the work, all we do is show you how &provide you with the confidence support & you need to succeed.
Is it time for you to make the change to a brighter more fulfilling future?
Here are some area's where we can help you:
Addictions Anxiety Body Shape & Image Communication Compulsive Behaviours
Concentration Conflict Depression Insomnia
Irrational Behaviour Limiting Behaviours Low Self Esteem Nail Biting
Outcome Planning Panic Attacks Phobia's Procrastination
Relationship Issues Smoking Stress Management Time Management
I can be contacted on 0418 233 361 for further information.
Eric Diender
Consider your mind as being a very powerful computer, processing thousands of tasks
LETTER FROM GORDON NUTTAL MP MINISTER OF HEALTH TO WHITE WREATH ASSOC INC
13 July 2004
MI121634
Ms F Clark
President
White Wreath Association Inc
PO Box 1078
BROWNS PLAINS BC QLD 4118
Dear Ms Clark
Thank you for your letter dated 15 June 2004 regarding feedback on the draft statewide guidelines for the management of patients with suicidal behaviour and risk being developed by the Mental Health Unit, Queensland Health.
Your recommendations were noted and taken into consideration in producing the final document. A copy of the finalised document is enclosed.
I note that a successful meeting between the White Wreath Association and the Acting Director of Mental Health occurred in October 2003. I offer my support for such a meeting to occur again. If White Wreath Association would like to arrange an appointment with the Acting Director of Mental Health, please telephone (07) 3234 0675 to arrange a suitable time.
Should you have any queries regarding my advice to you, Ms Diana Petrovich, Senior Project Officer (Suicide Prevention), Mental Health Unit Queensland Health, will be pleased to assist you and can be contacted on telephone (07) 3234 1804.
Yours sincerely
GORDON NUTTALL MP
Minister for Health
Member for Sandgate
REPLY FROM WHITE WREATH ASSOCATION INC TO
GORDON NUTTAL MP MINISTER OF HEALTH
20 July 2004
Gordon Nuttall MP
Minister for Health
Member for Sandgate
GPO Box 48
BRISBANE QLD 4001
Dear Mr Nuttall
Thank you for your letter Ref. No. M1121634 date 13 July 2004.
Re: Suicide Policies -
These guidelines are a vast and very positive improvement and are now, we believe, the best in Australia.
We would like a face to face meeting with you and the Director. Your interest in this area is pivotal to the success of suicide/mental health policies. Our group brings together families and carers, particularly mothers, and when a suicidal/mentally ill person is discharged from care it is frequently to their family/carers.
You say you have taken our recommendations into consideration but you have not acknowledged White Wreath or Mr Neame in your list of sources/ references as we requested in our correspondence.
Page 3 of your guidelines …..suicide should always be regarded as a medical emergency. You are trying to have a bob each way. Here are three recent reasons why it should be regarded as an emergency; two from Queensland and one from New South Wales.
A young woman who was regarded as mildly suicidal was sent home where she killed another three year old child. She had previously killed her own son. Two children killed.
A man who was being assessed treated for suicide/mental illness and being managed in the community. He had expressed the desire to kill his family. Four lives lost.
A man who has been treated in the community in New South Wales for depression and a recent suicide attempt killed his entire family. Another four lives lost.
Ten lives lost three times or 300% the number of people originally presenting as a risk.
The stakes are very high and because they also involve murder and violence, very political.
Nowhere in your policies do you mention the link of suicide with murder, violence and public safety (see point 3 and 12 of our recommendations).
In our view there should be a legislative requirement to admit and assess suicidal people as in-patients.
Page 6 of your recommendations - bottom line - you are trying again to have a bob each way in what is a true emergency.
Because suicidal people arrive as out-patients, standing and in apparent good physical condition it is easy to regard the situation as not serious.
Follow up - safe follow up in the community does not exist and the hard evidence is that no mater how much money is spent in the community, safe follow up of actively suicidal patients is a total lie, totally impossible.
Page 4 - You obviously do not know what we are talking about when we say the patient should have a physiological/neurological examination as well. Verbal assessment is the beginning of the chain of events, which leads to suicide, murder suicide and mass killing.
English enquiries into forty mental health related murders and other mental health disasters said “Listen to those closest to the patient”. Families must not only be consulted but their views should be noted in the patient's file especially if they are counter to the proposed plan of action. Explanation and active involvement from the family from woe to go is one of the most effective ways of preventing disasters.
Yours sincerely
Fanita Clark
PRESIDENT
cc Ms Diana Petrovich
IMPORTANT NOTICE
In 2005 White Wreath Day - In Remembrance of All Victims of Suicide falls on a Sunday. The Brisbane commemoration will not be held in King George Square 2005 due to an Arts and Craft Market that will be held on Sundays in the square.
As we are a National Organisation we have decided that the main service will be in Perth Western Australia on the 29 May 2005.
Our great team in Perth has held services on White Wreath Day for the past 4 years and they are very excited that the major commemoration will be held in their city. Planning is already underway.
Our Kingaroy Qld Branch Co-ordinator Judy Hutton will hold a commemoration in Kingaroy on our behalf on Sunday 29 May 2005.
VENUE: Kingaroy City Forecourt, Glendon Street KINGAROY
TIME: Display from 9.30am - 3.30pm
OFFICIAL CEREMONY: Commencing 1pm
CONTACT: Judy Hutton
EMAIL: dnjhutton@bigpond.com.au
MOBILE: 0428 685 801 the best Number to ring and Judy will reply. OR 07 4669 4178
I hope you will support us by helping Judy, as she will be taking on a difficult task.
2006 MONDAY 29 MAY WE WILL BE BACK IN KING GEORGE SQUARE BRISBANE
PETER NEAME RESEARCH OFFICER WHITE WREATH ASSOC INC
Minister of Health
NSW
Morris Iemma
Announces a $5000 grant for Australia's University Chair of Schizophrenia Research
Re: Chair of Schizophrenia
Excellent move - I made the point in my books “Suicide and Mental Health in Australia and New Zealand”, “Profile of the Mass Killer Amok Murder Madness and Badness” 2003.
It is an old saying/axiom that if you get the treatment of schizophrenia right everything else in mental health will improve. Depression gets a lot of publicity but the truth is schizophrenia is the main cause of suicide and the link; this neurological link of all mental illnesses is constantly ignored.
VOLUNTEERS
We cannot continue to do the work we have been doing without the help of volunteers. We would like to thank all the volunteers who have helped us over the years, but we still need more help!
Please contact Head Office if you are willing to assist.
WWA Committee Meetings are held on the first Monday of every month at:
Browns Plains Hotel
Browns Plains Road
Browns Plains
7Pm Start
LETTER FROM CARING COMMUNITIES INCORPORATED - NEW ZEALAND
Recently I received a copy of the letter that you had sent to Mr Peter Beattie, the Premier of Queensland and Dr John Davies. As an organisation of parents similar to yourselves, we were interested in the replies. As your letters to the Premier and the Director of MHS were dated 22/12/2003 no doubt you have received replies. We would be very interested to receive copies of these, if you would be so kind as to allow us to view them.
Your letter of 1/03/2004 was especially interesting and we wondered to whom it was sent and what the replies were.
Your newsletter says that in January 2004 the Queensland Government asked you for your input into suicidal behaviours. We wondered why the focus was on suicide only. If we have interpreted your opening paragraph correctly, while suicide is a tragedy, we do not think you would disagree that homicide is even more devastating for all of the parties concerned. In the majority of cases where a tragedy is the end result, the disturbed person has usually signalled very clearly their unstable state. The tragedies have, we believe, in the main been entirely predictable and preventable; but no one is every accountable, and the link between suicide and murder is mostly ignored. We are constantly told of things such as “Personality Disorder” (an euphemism for schizophrenic disorder), anti-social conduct disorder, attention seeking behaviour, all of which are symptoms of major brain dysfunction.
We wondered if you have read “MADNESS IN THE STREETS” written by Rael Jean Isaac and Virginia Armat, also “NOWHERE TO GO”, “THE TRAGIC ODYSSEY OF THE HOMELESS MENTALLY ILL” also P.G.M.D. the book by Sally Satel.
The huge tragedy of all of this is that deinstitutionalisation was brought in based on flawed information. The oft repeated myth that these people are no more dangerous than other sectors of society is completely untrue. The factual evidence of outcomes proves this. Patient, family and community safety has been ignored because of the flawed theories; many families have no idea of what they are facing.
Here in New Zealand we have had numerous incidences of this. One of the most widely known was the case of Mark Burton, who three years ago killed his mother, tried to kill his brother, and attempted to set fire to their house. At the subsequent trial Mark was found “NOT GUILTY BY REASON OF INSANITY”. Mr Burton, Mark's father, who at the time was a Sergeant of Police, pursued what options there were to seek justice for his family tragedy. While this was a very traumatic and stressful time for all of the Burton family, extended family and relatives, eventually the trainee psychiatrists, practising psychiatry for a number of years as a M.O.S.S. but not fully qualified, was disciplined and required to pay $86,000. However this amount is paid by the insurers and not personally. However it is probably one of the first times that even that level of accountability has been enforced.
Reading the article in your “Bulletin”, exactly the same set of circumstances has been happening in Australia, with similar grief for families.
Would you not think that the time was right for families to take a more proactive stance in joining together to seek ACCOUNTABILITY.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely
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