ANZ: I Am Here Connect Series Webinar – Let’s talk about suicide: a guide to compassionate conversations

The Right Words, at the Right Moment, Can Save a Life

Talking about suicide can feel difficult. You might worry about saying the wrong thing, making things worse, or simply not know where to start.

But being willing to notice, ask, listen, and stay in the conversation can make an enormous difference.

Join I Am Here for this practical one-hour session designed to help you build the courage, confidence, and skills to have conversations about suicide when they matter most.

You don’t need to be a mental health professional or have any previous training. This session is for anyone who wants to feel better prepared to support a colleague, friend, family member, or someone in their community.

What we’ll cover

• Why open conversations about suicide matter
  Understand why talking openly and directly about suicide can be an important part of supporting someone who may be struggling.
• How to start the hard conversation, and stay in it
  Learn practical ways to approach someone, ask difficult questions, listen without judgement, and respond when you’re not sure what to say.
• Building a culture of support around you
  Explore how everyday conversations and actions can help create environments where people feel safer speaking up and asking for help.

What to expect

This will be a practical and supportive session, with tools and approaches you can use straight away. There will also be time for a live Q&A, giving you the opportunity to ask questions and explore situations you may encounter in real life.

You’ll leave with greater confidence about how to recognise when a conversation may be needed, how to begin it, and how to help someone connect with appropriate support.

Can’t make it live?

Register anyway and we’ll send you a recording of the session to watch at a time that suits you.

Guest Speakers:

Dr Paul Phillips brings a wealth of clinical and legal experience to this conversation. He holds three bachelor’s degrees, a Masters and a PhD, and has presented his work more than 97 times at conferences and in academic publications, including with the Law Society of NSW and the UNSW psychology and law series. Paul conducts medicolegal assessments and psychological treatment, with deep expertise in PTSD, personality disorders and developmental disorders in adults.

Jim Breen is the founder of I Am Here and a passionate advocate for mental health and wellbeing with decades of experience supporting communities, schools, and workplaces. He has been at the forefront of driving meaningful, lasting change in the way people think, talk, and act on mental health and wellbeing. Jim is driven by a deep personal belief that every person deserves to feel supported, and that the right conversation at the right time can change, and save, a life.