Youth mentoring and suicide prevention group Big Brothers Big Sisters are a step closer to setting up a strong branch in the Riverina after success in regional Victoria.

CEO Mark Watt has told the Narrandera Argus the group has provided proven support to young people and would be interested in developing a support network in the region with local MP Helen Dalton and up to ten residents joining a community consultation group.

Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) seeks to build young peoples confidence and increase their resilience with the help of a volunteer mentor.

According to the group, 80.95% of young people reported that having a mentor makes them feel less lonely. Sharing everyday activities, the young people have a caring adult they can confide in.

In 2001 the Murrumbidgee Local Health District suicide rate was 11.6 per 100,000 people. In the space of 15 years that figure almost doubled to 20.9 per 100,000 people.

The Riverina has the seventh-highest suicide rate per 100,000 people in NSW and there have been 130 deaths in the five years to 2019.

“We have a committee made up of around 10 people plus Helen Dalton has given wonderful support,” Mark Watt said.

“We are committed to the region but will need community and government support.

“Driven by the devastating increase in youth suicide, the town of Griffith and the Riverina community have reached out to BBBS as another support to the region, in an effort to prevent the tragic loss of young people.

“To make this happen we require funding and dedicated community supporters.”

A Local Advisory Group has been set up by Murray MP Helen Dalton which is trying to raise money to appoint a youth co-ordinator.

Michael Borg, Commanding Officer 340 Squadron, is Chair of the advisory group.

He is supported by Rachael Veenhuizen, Val Woodland, Trish Leonard, Michele Harvey, Kate Hardman, Filomena Pingiaro and Sue Hone.

Paige Goudie, Alice Ryan and Imreet Singh are youth representatives on the committee.

Mrs Dalton says this program would be welcome in the Riverina provided young people were involved in the process.

“We have made excellent progress in bringing a new early intervention youth suicide prevention program to our area,” Mrs Dalton said.

“You can’t start a youth program without young people having their say on how things should run. “(BBBS) is doing great things in Regional Victoria and we really want to get it up in the Riverina.

“We’d like to be able to start in Griffith, then be able to expand to Leeton, Narrandera, Hay, Hillston, Moama, Balranald, Wentworth and Deniliquin.

The group has applied for a grant under the Government’s Building Resilient Regional Leaders program.

“People can also make a donation to help get this program off the ground. We have a guarantee

that all money raised for the Riverina must stay in the Riverina,” Mrs Dalton

“So many parents have come to me and said they felt they’ve had nowhere to turn when their

teenager was suicidal. We need to do better and we will.”

– Nicholas Rupolo