Black Dog Ride grant helps Albany RSL train volunteers to provide initial support in a mental health crisis
By Claire Middleton,Claire Middletonal
Copyright thewest
The Albany sub-branch of the RSL has provided a dozen volunteers with training on how to give initial support to anybody who might be experiencing a mental health crisis.
The branch received $1700 from the Black Dog Ride Australia community grants allocation and used it to train the participants who were gathered from organisations including the RSL sub-branch in Mt Barker, the Naval Association, the Patriots Australia Military Motorcycle Club and young people’s charity Wanslea.
The two-day course was led by Denmark-based education specialist Vali Wood and demonstrated to volunteers how to assist someone who might be in crisis and manage them until professional help can be sought.
The RSL helps support veterans and their families to thrive in their local communities through social connections and events.
However, mental health issues and suicide have been common among those who served in war zones like Vietnam.
Black Dog Ride was founded in 2009 and has raised almost $4m through community events and motorcycle rides including the annual One-Dayer and Long Ride Home.
The aims of the organisation’s community grants are to raise awareness on depression and suicide prevention and the group encourages local causes to apply for funding to run a mental health program to benefit the community.
WA Mental Health Week will launch on October 3.
