Suicide jump triggers Canberra summit

A DECADE-high spike in the rate of suicides has triggered an emergency summit to be held in Canberra today.

The Morrison Government has summoned mental health experts and advocates for crisis talks after it was reveals nearly nine Australians a day are taking their own lives.

A 9 per cent jump on the previous year sparked calls for immediate intervention by governments, with the latest figures showing 3128 lives were lost to suicide last year.

Deaths from intentional self-harm occur among males at a rate more than three times greater than that for females.

Men aged 45-49 years remained most at risk, accounting for 75 per cent (2348) deaths last year.

Alcohol was in the bloodstream of nearly 500 people who died by suicide.

About 60 experts and organisations from the suicideprevention sector will attend the summit, including representatives from Lifeline, Beyond Blue, Everymind, Black Dog Institute and Orygen.

National Mental Health Commission chair Lucy Brogden said the best minds in mental health and suicide-prevention would be together in one room to talk about how the crisis can be tackled.

“Sadly, when we talk about suicide rates we’re talking about people — people with families, friends and communities around them who are also greatly impacted,” Ms Brogden said. “What has been lacking thus far, is a broad consensus from the mental health and suicide-prevention sector about where the government should be focusing its efforts and investments.”

With doctors prescribing more medication for mental illness than ever before — in- cluding a doubling in the rate of antidepressant use since 2000 — Lifeline has argued governments are not doing enough to combat the social factors leading so many to choose death over living

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt initiated the Parliament House summit in response to the “deeply concerning” figures.

Better use of data to guide suicide prevention activity will be one of the key discussions points of the summit.

“Suicide is a national tragedy and one life lost to suicide is one too many,” Mr Hunt said.