Member for Dobell Emma McBride has given an impassioned address in Federal Parliament on suicide prevention.
McBride, who is Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention and for Rural and Regional, Health, acknowledged the individual and collective contributions of people with a lived and living experience of suicide.
She also commended the families, carers and supporters of people living with suicidal ideation for their input and said the Government was committed to putting the experience of those involved at the centre of decision making.
“We also must recognise that despite increasing expenditure on mental health services, Australia has not seen a significant decrease in the number of lives lost to suicide in over two decades,” she said.
“We need to expand our thinking, to make sure our suicide prevention efforts address the underlying drivers of distress.
“This is because suicide is complex.
“It may result from serious mental illness but more often it can be a response to distress such as family breakdown, sexual abuse, unemployment, financial insecurity or losses, homelessness, domestic and family violence, social isolation, and drug or alcohol dependency.”
McBride said a broad and compassionate approach to suicide prevention required sustained, collaborative effort from across portfolios and from all governments and sectors.
She said Government plans to tackle suicide prevention included the Our Secure Jobs, Better Pay Bill to strengthen workplaces and restore rights to workers and the $10B Housing Australia Future Fund which would deliver 30,000 new social and affordable homes in the first five years.
She said other moves to address the drivers of distress included cheaper child care, cheaper medicines, 180,000 fee-free TAFE places, wage raises for aged care workers, improvements to Paid Parental Leave and paid Domestic Violence Leave and advancing the Voice to Parliament.
“What we are doing is strengthening communities,” she said.
“It is sensible policy that addresses the drivers of distress, but it is an ambitious task, and we cannot do it alone.”
She said there was a growing, genuine desire for collaboration and co-operation, affirmed by the endorsements of governments last year of the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement.
“(This) binds all governments to collaborate on systemic, whole-of-government reform to deliver a comprehensive, co-ordinated, consumer focused and compassionate mental health and suicide prevention system to benefit all Australians,” she said.
She said the Federal Government was partnering with states and territories to establish the foundations for a comprehensive suicide prevention service system.
This would include universal aftercare, postvention and Distress Brief Support trials, she said.
“Also, it prioritises work across education, workplaces, homelessness, financial counselling, family, domestic and sexual violence, and justice.”
McBride said First Nations people, especially youth, were a top priority, as was improved response to natural disasters.
“In March I was pleased to see the launch a new free online wellbeing and suicide prevention tool for farmers, called Taking Stock,” she said.
“This is another example of co-design – designed with three farming communities in South Australia, Victoria and NSW.
“It’s also the final stage of a three-year research project led by the University of South Australia – another demonstration of the great value of research in this area.”
She said another group of focus was the LGBTIQA+, consultations to inform Australia’s first 10-Year National Action Plan for the Health and Wellbeing of LGBTIQA+ people underway.
“This will provide a framework for action to address both physical and mental health needs and lead to better health outcomes,” she said.
She outlined other key plans to address the issue including $7.8M for new interpreting services, through Primary Health Networks and $114M for the National Suicide Prevention Leadership and Support Program over three years.
“Suicide Prevention Australia deserves a special mention for its Community Tracker, which monitors community distress and its causes,” she said.
“This is helping me, the Government and the sector understand current pressures and where support may be most needed.
“The National Suicide and Self-Harm Monitoring System is also up and running.
“It was established by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, with the National Suicide Prevention Office, and wide ranging input.”
McBride said work was well underway on the National Suicide Prevention Strategy, led by the National Suicide Prevention Office.
Source:
Parliamentary transcript