West Australian prison officers hit the highways on motorcycles to combat the stigma of mental health among prison staff on Sunday, March 24.
It was the first time the WA Prison Officers Stand TALR Ride had taken place.
The ride was in support of the national Black Dog Ride aiming to raise awareness for mental health and suicide prevention.
The WA Prison Officers’ Union ride saw 75 officers and their family members jump on board 45 bikes, taking off from Casuarina Prison just after 8am.
The group travelled through the South West region to meet up with their counterparts from Bunbury, Albany and Pardelup Prison Farm before a commemorative lunch in Wagin Wetlands Park.
“It’s a cause close to my heart. Sadly, since becoming a prison officer 15 years ago, I have attended 12 of my colleagues’ funerals who lost their lives to suicide,” WA Prison Officers’ Union Acting Secretary Andy Smith said.
“Because of the dangerous and stressful environment in which prison officers work in, depression and suicide is widespread and disappointingly no research has been done to measure just how bad it is.”
“There are no statistics on exactly how many prison officers take their own life in WA, but I don’t know many other professions where staff have had to attend more than ten of their colleagues’ funerals as a result of suicide.
Mr Smith added: “WAPOU has been at the forefront of combatting the stigma of mental health in WA prisons by offering members seminars and on-site help, and now for the first time we’re bringing everyone together for the Stand TALR ride,” he said.
“Each prison officer needs to stand TALR in order to combat poor mental health and overcome the stigma of weakness and to not be afraid to seek help and support for themselves and those who they care about.”