Latest / 360 with Katie Woolf / Firefighter Andrew Falconer says he’s doing the push up challenge for suicide prevention after his 15-year-old daughter took her own life

Transcript

Firefighter Andrew Falconer says he’s doing the push up challenge for suicide prevention after his 15-year-old daughter took her own life · 360 with Katie Woolf

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: I love hearing about Territory ands doing great stuff and
• 0:03
  Speaker 1: joining me in the studio. Right now, I have got
• 0:06
  Speaker 1: Andrew Falconer, good morning to you us, good to see you,
• 0:11
  Speaker 1: and also Anita Cardona, good morning to.
• 0:13
  Speaker 2: You, good morning, thanks for having us.
• 0:15
  Speaker 1: It is lovely to have you both in the studio now.
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  Speaker 1: You're both Northern Territory firefighters and you're both doing something
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  Speaker 1: pretty awesome for a really good cause. You are taking
• 0:25
  Speaker 1: part in the Push Up Challenge for the month of
• 0:28
  Speaker 1: June and it is all to raise money for Lifeline.
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  Speaker 1: This sounds like it's going to take quite a bit
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  Speaker 1: of energy. You two lots of bush ups.
• 0:37
  Speaker 2: Yeah, so and forty four and that represents the amount
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  Speaker 2: of people that lost their life to suicide in twenty
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  Speaker 2: twenty one.
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  Speaker 1: So when you look at it like that, and when
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  Speaker 1: you actually hear that number and you think of the
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  Speaker 1: level of you know, like the level of heartache I
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  Speaker 1: think that people have felt right around Australia and right
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  Speaker 1: around the Northern Terrace when it comes to suicide. This
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  Speaker 1: is actually an amazing thing to be part of and
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  Speaker 1: such an important cause, isn't it.
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  Speaker 3: Yeah.
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  Speaker 4: So that Anita initially brought the flyer in That's what
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  Speaker 4: got my attention three and forty four. Suicide is very
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  Speaker 4: very close to the surface for me. I lost my
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  Speaker 4: daughter to it at fifteen in twenty eighteen. Two of
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  Speaker 4: my friends serving friends from the fireber Go two thousand
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  Speaker 4: and seven, a very close made of mine, as well
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  Speaker 4: another one.
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  Speaker 3: A few years later.
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  Speaker 4: We've had other family members in such a small brigade
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  Speaker 4: be affected by it, and it scuttles the ship. It
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  Speaker 4: rocks you to the bone, it wipes you out. Like
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  Speaker 4: you're both mothers, you grow these kids, and if there's
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  Speaker 4: something that we can do to prevent it, I mean,
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  Speaker 4: Lifeline is a starter, give to Dolly's dream as well,
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  Speaker 4: but we have to do something, and raising funds is
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  Speaker 4: a small way, in a small gesture to be able
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  Speaker 4: to do it.
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  Speaker 1: Yeah, Falcon, it's bloody brave of you to speak about it,
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  Speaker 1: and it's so brave of you after the loss of
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  Speaker 1: your daughter. I like I can barely talk about it,
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  Speaker 1: you know. Learning that and like you said, Anita and
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  Speaker 1: I both mums, you're a dad, it really hits home
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  Speaker 1: as to why that is so important, and it's so important,
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  Speaker 1: you know when you think about our young people and
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  Speaker 1: the different things that we can sort of do to,
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  Speaker 1: you know, to try and speak more about this issue
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  Speaker 1: as well.
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  Speaker 4: Yeah, you're absolutely right, it's hidden even when you'll see it.
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  Speaker 4: You'll see it pop up on the news and stuff
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  Speaker 4: like that, but it's hidden away. And that'll be if
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  Speaker 4: anyone you know or contact Lifeline, so immediately you've got
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  Speaker 4: a hint that it's suicide. And these kids are they're
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  Speaker 4: bombarded with phones, you know, the Internet is in their rooms.
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  Speaker 4: It's it's tough for them to deal with. And it's
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  Speaker 4: the number one. It's been above three thousand for a
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  Speaker 4: long time. I know it was above three thousand in
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  Speaker 4: twenty eighteen and it's still above that every single year.
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  Speaker 4: And yeah, it's something that we have to do something
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  Speaker 4: more about. There's lots of good counselors in schools and stuff.
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  Speaker 4: And me personally, the profession of psychology and the therapy
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  Speaker 4: that I had to go through to recover, I never
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  Speaker 4: recover from and I just learned how to walk beside it.
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  Speaker 3: But that profession to me is.
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  Speaker 4: Next level of getting deep down into the mind and
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  Speaker 4: being able to function again.
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  Speaker 3: Is a great profession.
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  Speaker 4: And yeah, that these kids need to go and speak
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  Speaker 4: to someone. Lifelines are start, but counseling and psychology is an.
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  Speaker 3: Extra that they should do if they are.
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  Speaker 1: Struggling and know that there is that help out there. Yeah,
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  Speaker 1: because that's a hard thing as well, isn't it. As
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  Speaker 1: it's having those discussions sometimes and you know, and particularly
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  Speaker 1: with young people, it's like it's hard to tell a
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  Speaker 1: kid that what they're going through at that point in
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  Speaker 1: time isn't going to last forever, and that there's different
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  Speaker 1: mechanisms and you know, different ways that they can be supported.
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  Speaker 1: But it's hard for us as adults to have those conversations,
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  Speaker 1: let alone as young people to have those conversations.
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  Speaker 4: Yeah, you're right, it's I went searching for answers and
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  Speaker 4: you never find them. That's why suicide is so devastating.
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  Speaker 4: You don't really get to find too many answers in it.
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  Speaker 4: But some of the things that I did do and
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  Speaker 4: you can, like you just touched on it there as adults,
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  Speaker 4: you can look at teenagers. And I went and did
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  Speaker 4: an audio book which I think all parents should.
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  Speaker 3: It's called The Teenage Brain.
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  Speaker 4: And it dives down deep into what the unformed brain,
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  Speaker 4: the decision making part of the brain is not formed
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  Speaker 4: at fifteen. Their emotions are high, then you get lack
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  Speaker 4: of sleep, you get phone phone bombardment.
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  Speaker 1: And.
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  Speaker 4: Yeah, it's tough for those kids to deal with. But
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  Speaker 4: if you've got an extra weaponry and as a parent,
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  Speaker 4: I would highly recommend that you listen to that book
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  Speaker 4: and it gives you a better understanding and what these
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  Speaker 4: kids struggle through sometimes and almost tough.
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  Speaker 3: And she hid.
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  Speaker 4: It quite well and it just yeah, when it rocked us,
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  Speaker 4: all of us, grandparents, her brother. Yeah, And once I
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  Speaker 4: saw Anita come in with a poster, I thought I
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  Speaker 4: have to do.
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  Speaker 1: Something falcon I mate, I really appreciate you sharing that
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  Speaker 1: on air today. I know that it's bloody hard to
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  Speaker 1: do something like that, so I really appreciate you sharing
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  Speaker 1: that with us. As you know as a parent, I'm
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  Speaker 1: sure a needle will feel the same. I think it's
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  Speaker 1: so important to have those discussions because I think that
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  Speaker 1: it helps all of us. So I appreciate you sharing
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  Speaker 1: that in fine. I know it's not an easy thing
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  Speaker 1: to do. Sorry, mate, it's rock like. You've really surprised me,
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  Speaker 1: so it's made me feel quite emotional.
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  Speaker 3: That's all right, Katie. You're a mum, so.
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  Speaker 4: That's what that's where it comes from and I heard
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  Speaker 4: I heard you with young Decland's parents that emotion is
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  Speaker 4: fine and it comes from the heart. So we appreciate
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  Speaker 4: the opportunity to be given some time and raise awareness
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  Speaker 4: and hopefully get some of these kids to go to
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  Speaker 4: help and and talk.
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  Speaker 1: You spot on Anita. It must have looked for you
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  Speaker 1: then coming in with that flyer and you know, speaking
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  Speaker 1: to Falcon and and you know, realizing the way in
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  Speaker 1: which suicide has impacted by the sounds of a number
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  Speaker 1: of people within the Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Service
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  Speaker 1: in different ways. You know, it's it's sometimes things like
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  Speaker 1: this seem like a small thing that you can do,
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  Speaker 1: but it's actually a really brilliant way to bring together
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  Speaker 1: a group of people and to have that common goal
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  Speaker 1: and to have that, you know, that real common sort
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  Speaker 1: of belief that you can do something that's going to
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  Speaker 1: make a bit of a difference.
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, definitely. We I just want to do something positive
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  Speaker 2: and get some of these guys moving, to be honest
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  Speaker 2: with you, and the fact that Falks jumped on board,
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  Speaker 2: I was like, thank you, yeah, and how could we
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  Speaker 2: not go from here sort of things. So now it's
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  Speaker 2: just a case of getting out. They're going to shake buckets.
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  Speaker 2: It's certain like ARM will be promoting that and just
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  Speaker 2: getting as many people on board as possible. And obviously
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  Speaker 2: donations are a bonus, but yeah, be nice to have
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  Speaker 2: a group that don't generally hang out as well and
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  Speaker 2: connect with different five fighters as well and do it together.
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  Speaker 1: So yeah, and so the number of push ups changes
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  Speaker 1: each and every day, does not? Yes?
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  Speaker 3: Yes, apparently you too a fit.
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  Speaker 1: You're both fit and you've both got strong arms, I reckon,
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  Speaker 1: So you're gonna be all right with those push ups,
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  Speaker 1: aren't you?
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  Speaker 2: Well yes, yeah, yeah, any be good and if anyone
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  Speaker 2: does have any injuries or anything, they can stup out
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  Speaker 2: and do something else. So yeah, it'll be Yeah, it
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  Speaker 2: would be a good challenge anyway. And I mean, how
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  Speaker 2: can we say it's hard when what we're what we're supporting,
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  Speaker 2: and what we where our goal is. How can we
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  Speaker 2: even say anything is hard?
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  Speaker 1: Yeah? Well, physical is almost easy, isn't it? Sometimes? You know,
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  Speaker 1: when you look at physical challenges, it is it's very different,
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  Speaker 1: you know, to mental challenges. Yeah, so you sort of
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  Speaker 1: I think, yeah, I can do that, I can do
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  Speaker 1: that volume of push ups, no worries.
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, absolutely so, yeah, and.
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  Speaker 4: You're right, it is for mental health as well, and
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  Speaker 4: people's everyone has a struggle at some point in their
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  Speaker 4: life and you're never always tack them with the win.
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  Speaker 4: But yeah, it's for mental health and ultimately the suicide
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  Speaker 4: prevention is what we need to There's lots of kids
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  Speaker 4: in the territory.
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  Speaker 3: It's terrible numbers, it really is.
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  Speaker 1: Now, tell me if people want to get involved, if
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  Speaker 1: they want to make sure that they donate as well, Anita,
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  Speaker 1: what's the best way that they can do that?
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  Speaker 2: So our PFES media are on board.
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  Speaker 3: Yeah.
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  Speaker 2: I was just speaking to Sarah before as well, and
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  Speaker 2: apparently Jared is an ambassador so we can link everything
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  Speaker 2: to here at the s Yeah, so you guys can
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  Speaker 2: get some links and we'll be able to donate directly
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  Speaker 2: there to the team.
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  Speaker 1: So that is wonderful. Now, how many are taking part
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  Speaker 1: so far?
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  Speaker 2: Not enough about twenty, but they're Johnny Cup Mayley's and
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  Speaker 2: hopefully like fifty more join up.
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  Speaker 3: Tomorrow, So I reckon they will.
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  Speaker 1: Honestly, I think, you know, after hearing you guys speak
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  Speaker 1: this morning, I think it's a really wonderful thing to
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  Speaker 1: get involved in, and I think for people to understand
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  Speaker 1: the meaning behind it and why it's so important to
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  Speaker 1: you guys. I think that it's really a great initiative.
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  Speaker 4: Yeah, thanks for the time to promote it to Cady.
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  Speaker 1: Ay. Yeah, honestly, you know, I'm always I really like
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  Speaker 1: hearing from territory instead of doing things to make a change.
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  Speaker 1: So I think it's so incredibly important. And look, I
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  Speaker 1: know for some people listening this morning that this conversation
• 10:46
  Speaker 1: might have been triggering, So if it is, please you
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  Speaker 1: can get in contact with Lifeline and that number is
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  Speaker 1: thirteen eleven fourteen. And well, Andrew Falconer and Anita Cardona,
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  Speaker 1: you two are a pair of legs.
• 11:00
  Speaker 3: Jins.
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  Speaker 1: Thank you so very much for coming into the studio
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  Speaker 1: this morning.
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  Speaker 3: Thank you. I appreciate it.