A free mental health awareness and suicide prevention training program will be offered to the Broken Hill community on Saturday November 15, as part of the sHedway initiative aimed at normalising conversations about mental health in community settings.

The sHedway Forum will be held at Lifeline Broken Hill, located at 184 Argent Street, from 9am to 1.30pm. The program is designed to provide participants with practical skills to recognise when someone might be at risk of suicide, reach out to them and help them stay safe, and connect with expert help when needed.

Participants who complete the training will receive a certificate recognising their newly acquired skills in mental health first aid. The program emphasises that talking about mental health should be as normal as discussing physical health, and aims to create a culture where everyone in the shed family feels comfortable seeking support.

The initiative is being delivered through a partnership between several organisations committed to mental health support in regional New South Wales. The event is kindly funded by NSW Health and The Royal Flying Doctor Service South Eastern Section, ensuring there is no cost to participants. This funding model reflects a broader commitment to making mental health resources accessible to rural and remote communities where services can be limited.

The program is open to anyone over 16 years of age in the local community, and organisers have emphasised that people do not need to be connected to sheds to attend. This inclusive approach recognises that mental health literacy and suicide prevention skills are valuable for all community members, regardless of their involvement in specific organisations or groups.

The sHedway movement represents a growing recognition of the important role that community spaces, particularly those traditionally associated with men such as men's sheds, can play in addressing mental health challenges. By creating environments where conversations about wellbeing are encouraged and supported, these programs aim to reduce the stigma that can prevent people from seeking help.

Mental health remains a significant concern in regional Australia, where isolation, economic pressures and limited access to services can compound existing challenges. Programs like sHedway Forum provide community members with the confidence and knowledge to support each other, creating networks of care that complement professional mental health services.

The training will include a lunch break from 1pm to 1.30pm, with lunch provided. The afternoon session will continue until 4.30pm and will feature an introduction to local services and a sHedway update, ensuring participants are aware of the resources available in their community.

Those interested in attending can register by contacting Eliza Fairhurst on 0407 884 187 or Carol Muldoon on 0438 461 098. Further information is available through the Facebook page at facebook.com/shedwayinmind or facebook.com/wevgotyourbackprogram.

The SafeTALK component of the program, running from 1pm to 1.30pm, will focus on practical strategies for having conversations about suicide with people who may be struggling. This direct approach to suicide prevention reflects current best practice, which emphasises that asking someone directly about suicidal thoughts does not increase risk and can often provide relief to those experiencing distress.

By equipping community members with these skills, the sHedway Forum aims to create a more resilient and supportive community where people look out for one another and feel empowered to act when they recognise someone needs help. The program acknowledges that everyone has a role to play in supporting mental health and preventing suicide in their community.