Talk About It Tuesday: Building Hope Through Conversation, a Peer-Led Approach to Suicide Prevention
Tracks
Jacaranda
| Friday, November 6, 2026 |
| 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM |
Overview
Jackie Perry, Clare Perry & Debbie Jackson, Talk About It Tuesday
Three Key Learnings
1. The power of conversation.
The demonstration of having a simple conversation about suicide and how these conversations can break down the stigma of mental health and suicide. Possibly saving a life.
2. The power of Connection
What can happen when people connect on common ground, such as sharing experiences of similar challenges? Working as a community to prevent suicide and break down stigma associated with mental health.
3. The power of the lived experience stories.
It is through showing our own vulnerability that we model to others that it is ok to experience times of challenge. It's not failure.
Presenter
Mrs Deborah Jackson
Founder
Talk About It Tuesday
Talk About It Tuesday: Building Hope Through Conversation, a Peer-Led Approach to Suicide Prevention
Presentation Overview
Talk about it Tuesday was started after the tragic loss by suicide of our sons, Dillon and Daniel. As mothers, we needed our grief to be witnessed and our boys to be honoured. Debbie and I have been friends for many years. We came together to comfort each other and wanted to support other families through this complicated grief.
Power of Conversation
It all started with a simple conversation on a Facebook page, but soon became an important way to connect those going through grief and mental health challenges. The group encouraged help-seeking and connecting to others who have been through similar situations.
Power of connection
In typical rural settings, people come together and support one another in tough times, and so two of the biggest Rodeos in the Cape, Laura and Weipa, thought this cause was worthwhile. Through these events, we were able to distribute mental health resources and hold space for those who needed to talk but were unsure about seeking professional help.
At these events, we pleaded with people to be more understanding of mental health and to keep watch over those around them. Debbie and I are both shy, humble rural women who found ourselves on a roller coaster ride that took us well outside our comfort zones.
Power of the lived experience story
In the last four years, we have shared our message and stories by presenting at events, facilitating workshops, and appearing on podcasts and in radio interviews. We still pinch ourselves that RIO Tinto Weipa painted six of their belly dumper trucks in suicide prevention colours in support of the cause. Talk About It Tuesday was also successful in a Qantas marketing grant and took their message Australia-wide through in-flight advertising via video and magazine. It all started with Talking About It.
Power of Conversation
It all started with a simple conversation on a Facebook page, but soon became an important way to connect those going through grief and mental health challenges. The group encouraged help-seeking and connecting to others who have been through similar situations.
Power of connection
In typical rural settings, people come together and support one another in tough times, and so two of the biggest Rodeos in the Cape, Laura and Weipa, thought this cause was worthwhile. Through these events, we were able to distribute mental health resources and hold space for those who needed to talk but were unsure about seeking professional help.
At these events, we pleaded with people to be more understanding of mental health and to keep watch over those around them. Debbie and I are both shy, humble rural women who found ourselves on a roller coaster ride that took us well outside our comfort zones.
Power of the lived experience story
In the last four years, we have shared our message and stories by presenting at events, facilitating workshops, and appearing on podcasts and in radio interviews. We still pinch ourselves that RIO Tinto Weipa painted six of their belly dumper trucks in suicide prevention colours in support of the cause. Talk About It Tuesday was also successful in a Qantas marketing grant and took their message Australia-wide through in-flight advertising via video and magazine. It all started with Talking About It.
Biography
MS Clare Perry
Director/logo and website design
Talk About It Tuesday
Talk About It Tuesday: Building Hope Through Conversation, a Peer-Led Approach to Suicide Prevention
Presentation Overview
Talk about it Tuesday was started after the tragic loss by suicide of our sons, Dillon and Daniel. As mothers, we needed our grief to be witnessed and our boys to be honoured. Debbie and I have been friends for many years. We came together to comfort each other and wanted to support other families through this complicated grief.
Power of Conversation
It all started with a simple conversation on a Facebook page, but soon became an important way to connect those going through grief and mental health challenges. The group encouraged help-seeking and connecting to others who have been through similar situations.
Power of connection
In typical rural settings, people come together and support one another in tough times, and so two of the biggest Rodeos in the Cape, Laura and Weipa, thought this cause was worthwhile. Through these events, we were able to distribute mental health resources and hold space for those who needed to talk but were unsure about seeking professional help.
At these events, we pleaded with people to be more understanding of mental health and to keep watch over those around them. Debbie and I are both shy, humble rural women who found ourselves on a roller coaster ride that took us well outside our comfort zones.
Power of the lived experience story
In the last four years, we have shared our message and stories by presenting at events, facilitating workshops, and appearing on podcasts and in radio interviews. We still pinch ourselves that RIO Tinto Weipa painted six of their belly dumper trucks in suicide prevention colours in support of the cause. Talk About It Tuesday was also successful in a Qantas marketing grant and took their message Australia-wide through in-flight advertising via video and magazine. It all started with Talking About It.
Power of Conversation
It all started with a simple conversation on a Facebook page, but soon became an important way to connect those going through grief and mental health challenges. The group encouraged help-seeking and connecting to others who have been through similar situations.
Power of connection
In typical rural settings, people come together and support one another in tough times, and so two of the biggest Rodeos in the Cape, Laura and Weipa, thought this cause was worthwhile. Through these events, we were able to distribute mental health resources and hold space for those who needed to talk but were unsure about seeking professional help.
At these events, we pleaded with people to be more understanding of mental health and to keep watch over those around them. Debbie and I are both shy, humble rural women who found ourselves on a roller coaster ride that took us well outside our comfort zones.
Power of the lived experience story
In the last four years, we have shared our message and stories by presenting at events, facilitating workshops, and appearing on podcasts and in radio interviews. We still pinch ourselves that RIO Tinto Weipa painted six of their belly dumper trucks in suicide prevention colours in support of the cause. Talk About It Tuesday was also successful in a Qantas marketing grant and took their message Australia-wide through in-flight advertising via video and magazine. It all started with Talking About It.
Biography
Mrs Jackie Perry
Director
Talk About It Tuesday
Talk About it Tuesday: Building hope through conversation, a peer-led approach to suicide prevention.
Presentation Overview
Talk about it Tuesday was started after the tragic loss by suicide of our sons, Dillon and Daniel. As mothers, we needed our grief to be witnessed and our boys to be honoured. Debbie and I have been friends for many years. We came together to comfort each other and wanted to support other families through this complicated grief.
Power of Conversation
It all started with a simple conversation on a Facebook page, but soon became an important way to connect those going through grief and mental health challenges. The group encouraged help-seeking and connecting to others who have been through similar situations.
Power of connection
In typical rural settings, people come together and support one another in tough times, and so two of the biggest Rodeos in the Cape, Laura and Weipa, thought this cause was worthwhile. Through these events, we were able to distribute mental health resources and hold space for those who needed to talk but were unsure about seeking professional help.
At these events, we pleaded with people to be more understanding of mental health and to keep watch over those around them. Debbie and I are both shy, humble rural women who found ourselves on a roller coaster ride that took us well outside our comfort zones.
Power of the lived experience story
In the last four years, we have shared our message and stories by presenting at events, facilitating workshops, and appearing on podcasts and in radio interviews. We still pinch ourselves that RIO Tinto Weipa painted six of their belly dumper trucks in suicide prevention colours in support of the cause. Talk About It Tuesday was also successful in a Qantas marketing grant and took their message Australia-wide through in-flight advertising via video and magazine. It all started with Talking About It.
Power of Conversation
It all started with a simple conversation on a Facebook page, but soon became an important way to connect those going through grief and mental health challenges. The group encouraged help-seeking and connecting to others who have been through similar situations.
Power of connection
In typical rural settings, people come together and support one another in tough times, and so two of the biggest Rodeos in the Cape, Laura and Weipa, thought this cause was worthwhile. Through these events, we were able to distribute mental health resources and hold space for those who needed to talk but were unsure about seeking professional help.
At these events, we pleaded with people to be more understanding of mental health and to keep watch over those around them. Debbie and I are both shy, humble rural women who found ourselves on a roller coaster ride that took us well outside our comfort zones.
Power of the lived experience story
In the last four years, we have shared our message and stories by presenting at events, facilitating workshops, and appearing on podcasts and in radio interviews. We still pinch ourselves that RIO Tinto Weipa painted six of their belly dumper trucks in suicide prevention colours in support of the cause. Talk About It Tuesday was also successful in a Qantas marketing grant and took their message Australia-wide through in-flight advertising via video and magazine. It all started with Talking About It.
Biography
Jackie Perry and Debbie Jackson co-founded Talk About It Tuesday, a group born out of the tragedy of both losing sons to suicide on a Tuesday. Along with Clare Perry, they have been passionate about creating mental health awareness and breaking down the stigma associated with suicide and suicide loss throughout Cape York Peninsula. This has been achieved through honest and open conversations at local events and workshops, and by publishing information booklets featuring local content and stories. Last year, they took the message beyond Cape York through their Qantas marketing grant, reaching a much broader audience than they imagined.
