Norma Ashwin from Leonora in the Goldfields-Esperance region of WA lost her 17 year old son to suicide in 2014 and her 14 year old son attempted suicide on the night following his brother's funeral. She knows first-hand the impact of suicide can have on families and tight-knit communities.

“You blame yourself that somehow you should have known. There wasn't a day I didn't think like this and it made me worry for all my children. It hurts and you don't know what to do,” Norma said.

Late last year at Parliament House in Canberra, the Prime Minister met with two families from Western Australian affected by suicide who shared their personal story of how suicide affected their families and communities.

“The trip to Canberra, the love shown to us by so many, meeting the Prime Minister, his words to my children, the experience of being heard, it meant much, made such a difference to my children, it was good for them.” said Norma Ashwin.

Lena Andrews is another West Australian parent who lost a child to suicide in 2014.

“My daughter always smiled, was always cheering up everyone. We needed help when we lost our child but there was none except for the Critical Response Project who has been there for us all this time. To lose a child puts a hole in your heart,” said Lena from Fitzroy Crossing.

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