Nick Cave has thrown his support behind a suicide prevention app for indigenous people of Australia. The Warlpiri community of Lajamanu in the Australian Tanami desert are crowdfunding the app which could provide hope for communities in need.
Aboriginal suicide rates are at epidemic levels with three people taking their own lives each week. Young Aboriginal people are said to be four times more likely to take their own life than their non-indigenous peers, a rate that is sadly among the highest in the world.
Since 2005, however, there hasn’t been a single suicide in Lajamanu. The community itself may have the answers and it’s hoped the app can get this important message out.
“With Aboriginal people committing suicide on an unprecedented scale, a group of elders are creating an app based on ceremony story and law,” explains Cave. “Join them in fighting for lives of young Aboriginal people and let’s show Aboriginal Australia we believe in them.”
The community-led and community empowering project is the subject of a GoFundMe campaign, with indigenous elders providing all content for the so-called Kurdiji 1.0 app. Read more here.
