Friday 10 September is World Suicide Prevention Day 2021, and this year it will see the release of the findings from Suicide Prevention Australia’s second State of the Nation report.
The findings from the report reveal alarming statistics concerning suicide rates in the country throughout the last 12 months of the Covid-19 pandemic.
It shows that one in four Australians report knowing someone who died by suicide during the past 12 months of the pandemic – the equivalent of 5 million people – with social isolation, the economy and jobs driving concerns, particularly among women.
Suicide Prevention Australia CEO Nieves Murray says history shows that major increases in suicide are linked to major social and economic events* and there is none more concerning facing Australia than right now.
Ms Murray says that legislation, such as a standalone national suicide prevention act, is the best prevention against suicide rates increasing, particularly given the major government decisions about economic, employee and welfare to support Australia’s Covid-repair and recovery.
“There have never been more lives lost to suicide in this country,” says Ms Murray.
“Australia needs a national Suicide Prevention Act, and we need to act now.
“We all have a role to play in preventing suicide.
“An Act will legislate a whole-of-government priority to prevent suicide and focus the attention of every agency to address the risk of suicide across our community.
“Suicide prevention isn’t limited to health portfolios.
“Housing is suicide prevention, employment is suicide prevention, finance is suicide prevention, and education is suicide prevention.
“We know social and economic isolation are the biggest drivers of suicide rates and Covid-19 has seen Australians subject to 18 months of rolling lockdowns and disruption to their personal lives, employment and businesses.
“We’ve seen how quickly Covid-19 cases can get out of hand and we need to have the same national policy focus and vigilance to stop suicide rates doing the same.
“The fact an overwhelming majority of Australians support this low-cost, low-risk, low-impact, high-outcome option should be the green light the Federal Government needs.
“The heightened economic and social threat posed by Covid-19 means we cannot afford to wait to legislate,” says Ms Murray.
To get help 24/7, phone Lifeline on 13 11 14 or the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467. If you or someone you know are in immediate danger, phone 000 for emergency services.
*According to the Federal Government’s Australian Institute of Health & Welfare: “While an individual’s reasons are personal and often complex, overall peaks and troughs in rates and numbers of deaths by suicide coincide— more or less—with social and economic events.”
