There has been strong demand across the Wattle Range Council area for a training course in the prevention of suicide.

One course has already been completed and places in the four remaining courses in the coming months are filling quickly.

It is provided at no cost to residents of the Wattle Range Council area.

Lasting four hours, it usually costs participants $88 to attend the mental health first aid conversations about suicide training course.

However, it is being offered free-of-charge to locals as the Wattle Range Suicide Prevention Group secured an $8800 grant from a State Government agency in 2021.

The SA Suicide Prevention Community Grant has come via Wellbeing SA.

Network secretary Marg Chapple is delighted with the success of the group’s grant application and the demand to attend the courses.

She attended the course some time ago, found it to be highly beneficial and urged her fellow network members to apply for a grant.

“It is about educating participants and giving them the knowledge and confidence to have conversations,” Ms Chapple said.

Her network had a promotional stall at the recent Beachport Crayfish Festival.