Youth Suicide Prevention Initiative

Brooke, I would just like to echo the comments of other people here and say well done and thank you for setting up this forum. This is such an important issue and I think it's great to use every opportunity to raise awareness. Only if people accept and understand this huge problem will there be any chance of fixing it.
The video of Joel Burns at the council meeting had me in tears throughout. What a great man. It is crucial that more public figures stand up and say that prejudice, bullying and abuse will not be tolerated. And, of course, even more important is sending the message to vulnerable or vicitimised people that they are not alone.
I don't care whatever pathetic prejudices some people may choose to have - the bottom line is that any kind of abuse (no matter how great or small) that affects someone so badly they want to end their own life, is absolutely unforgivable.
Thank you so much for doing your part to raise awareness of this issue. You absolutely have my full support.
xx