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SBS Translation Services and Wesley LifeForce have joined forces to help prevent suicide among refugee and asylum-seeker communities in Australia. How? By translating Wesley LifeForce’s Refugee and Asylum Seeker Suicide Prevention Training into six languages: Arabic, Dari, Jaren, Khmer, Persian and Tamil. And thanks to this partnership, more communities can now access this potentially lifesaving information.
How is the program benefitting refugees and asylum seekers?
- Targeted approach: by specifically addressing the unique challenges faced by refugees and asylum seekers in Australia.
- Language accessibility: by offering training in six languages, the initiative breaks down language barriers that often prevent access to suicide prevention resources.
- Nationwide reach: the translated materials will be used to deliver training across Australia, ensuring wide coverage and impact through partnerships with other organisations.
- Cultural sensitivity: the translations consider cultural nuances, making the content more relatable and effective for diverse communities.
Empowering communities: this initiative aims to equip individuals within refugee and asylum seeker communities with the skills to recognise and respond to suicide risk factors. - Collaborative effort: the partnership leverages SBS’s expertise in multicultural communication and Wesley LifeForce’s experience in suicide prevention training.
A more inclusive approach to mental health care
This collaboration a significant step forward in ensuring suicide prevention support is accessible to communities who are most in need. By providing culturally and linguistically appropriate suicide prevention training, we aim to reduce the risk of suicide among refugee and asylum seeker communities and foster a more inclusive approach to mental health care in Australia.
Throughout 2023/34, 242 refugees and asylum seekers accessed this training. We hope and expect the impact of this initiative will be far-reaching, potentially saving lives and improving the mental health of many individuals and families navigating the challenges of resettlement in Australia.
