The bullying started for the Shellharbour girl after her suicide attempt at age 15, with verbal, written and even physical abuse coming thick and fast.

It was too much for Isabella to take, and she dropped out of high school. Now though, thanks to health professionals and groups like Roses in the Ocean, she’s found the support she needs.

As a youth representative for the Illawarra Shoalhaven Suicide Prevention Collaborative, Isabella, now 18, is also sharing her experiences to inform new strategies to help other young people.

Her mother, Kylie Hanigan, also adds the benefit of her lived experience to the collaborative. She’s not only witnessed her daughter’s struggles; as a funeral director she sees the immense grief of many who have lost loved ones to suicide.

“My daughter ended up in hospital after a suicide attempt, and I was so scared for some time that she’d try again – I didn’t want to let her out of my sight,” she said.

“It was hard to access resources at first but I dug deep and found them, and Isabella went through the mental health system and came out the other side.

“I then joined funeral directors Hansen & Cole 12 months ago, and eight weeks afterwards we had one of Isabella’s friends come through who had died by suicide.

“It was heart wrenching, and since then there’s been many more, and staff are all trained to have those relevant conversations with families and friends, who are susceptible too.”

Isabella said she was heartened by the strategies the region’s suicide prevention collaborative was putting in place to reduce suicide deaths, and attempts.

The whole-of-community approach includes the roll out of the Youth Aware of Mental Health (YAM) program in Illawarra and Shoalhaven schools.

“Maybe those girls saw bullying as having a bit of fun with someone at school – they didn’t realise the impact they could have on someone’s life,” Isabella said.

“That’s why it’s so important that young people are taught about mental health and suicide, that they know what they should say – and not say – to their peers who are struggling.”

Young people can be particularly vulnerable to mental health problems, self-harm or suicide, according to Black Dog Institute researcher Dr Michelle Tye.

That’s why the institute partnered with the NSW Department of Education to trial YAM in this region in terms one and two this year.

So far more than 3500 Year 9 students, from 25 government, Catholic and independent secondary schools, have completed the program.

“YAM is a European program which had the strongest evidence in relation to reducing suicide attempts and the severity of suicidal thinking in young people,” Dr Tye said.

“Black Dog has brought this program to Australia as part of the LifeSpan approach to suicide prevention.

“It works by improving mental health literacy among young people and teaching them the skills necessary for coping with adverse life events and stress, so that they get help before reaching crisis point.”

Mental health issues such as depression and anxiety are increasing for young people, Dr Tye said. 

Each year about 90 school-aged children (4 to 17 years) die by suicide. Death by suicide increases markedly in the 17 to 25 year age group, with youth suicide (12 to 25 years) accounting for 14 per cent of deaths nationally.

“YAM focuses on mental health broadly, and there’s also a targeted suicide component,” Dr Tye said.

“However we know that in young people there’s 100 to 200 suicide attempts per death, so it could be up to 18,000 people attempting suicide at school age. Suicidal thinking and self harm is even more prevalent – so YAM targets all those things.”

Melissa Cameron, based at Kanahooka High School, has co-ordinated the roll-out of the YAM program to the region’s schools.

“It aims to challenge students’ negative perceptions and equip them with strategies to help each other in times of need,” she said.

“Help-seeking behaviour is also promoted, with strategies and information in the booklet ensuring the students are well prepared to reach out for support when they need it.”  

She said the five-session program actively involved students. “In the YAM program, youth are considered experts of their own mental health and their voices and experiences take centre stage,” Ms Cameron said.

“Role-play and reflection stand at the core of the program as the students play out and discuss a wide variety of feelings, solutions and outcomes.

“YAM helps students to realise that they have choices when faced with difficult situations by exploring problem solving, and encourages solidarity and strategies to help peers in need.”

Students had told her they had valued being able to talk openly and honestly about mental health and suicide in a confidential and safe environment.

Edmund Rice College principal Peter McGovern said YAM had offered a practical way for students to learn about issues that could be difficult to talk about.

“In the age we live in more and more schools are looking for opportunities around mental health, particularly around resilience building and suicide prevention,” he said. “Year 9 students are the perfect age for this program, as adolescence is an emotional time where there’s some uncertainty and awkwardness.

“Destigmatising this area, giving young people the information and coping skills and letting them know where to get help is vital.”

As part of the YAM roll out, the QPR: Question, Persuade, Refer online suicide prevention course was also promoted to school staff and parents. 

The Mercury, with the Illawarra Shoalhaven Suicide Prevention Collaborative, is also running a campaign to get more people to sign up to QPR. 

As part of that, NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard funded 1000 courses (usual cost $10). To secure one of the 300 remaining free courses visit www.suicidepreventioncollaborative.org.au/QPR 

If you’d like to talk to anyone about the issues raised in this article call Lifeline on 13 11 14; Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467 or Kids Help Line 1800 55 1800.