Right: state and federal governments now recognise suicide as an increasingly serious problem, to be treated proactively, including by funding school counsellors and psycholgists.
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Background information
(In January 2013, the Gillard Labour Government issued a policy statement on mental health in Australia titled, 'Mental health: taking action to tackle suicide'. The information and value statements reprinted below are taken from the preamble to this policy statement.
The full text of the document can be accessed at http://www.mhfa.com.au/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Taking-Action-to-Tackle-Suicide-ALP-2010.pdf)
Some information about suicide in Australia
Suicide is a national tragedy that has devastating impacts on individuals, families and communities. On average, around six Australians take their own lives each day. Attempted suicide is also a serious issue in Australia: more than one in eight Australians has thought about taking his or her own life, 4 per cent have made suicide plans and 3.3 per cent have attempted suicide during their lifetime. The social and financial costs of suicide are substantial. The human cost is incalculable.
More than 2000 Australians each year take their own lives. This is more people than die in the national road toll each year. Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data from the past decade suggests an overall decline in suicide rates, but mental health experts have expressed concern about the accuracy of the ABS data. Irrespective of the precise number, any suicide is one suicide too many.
Some groups in our community are at much higher risk of suicide than others. Men are much more likely to take their own lives than women: men account for around 75 per cent of suicide deaths in Australia. Other groups, including Indigenous Australians, people in rural and remote areas, gay, lesbian bisexual and transgender people, and children and young people are also at greatest risk.
While men account for three- quarters of deaths from suicide, an estimated 72 per cent of males do not seek help for mental disorders. This is because of the stigma associated with mental illness, and because men are more likely to think they need to 'tough it out'. Men also often turn to alcohol to mask the symptoms of mental illnesses such as depression.
Many of our children and young people have mental health or serious behavioural problems. About one in seven children aged 4 to 14 years are estimated to experience a mental health condition in a year, with one in ten children having a long term mental or behavioural condition. These problems can include behavioural problems as well as conditions such as anxiety and depression.