Reach out, because you aren’t alone
DID you know three-quarters of all people who take their own life are blokes?
Our hearts were broken 3046 times last year.
That’s the number of people who took their own life.
People do it for a million reasons, but the result for those who are left behind is the same every time — devastation.
The headlines seem happy that this number is slightly down from last year, but what about the numbers inside the numbers?
Last year 76 per cent of suicides were by men; that’s more than the total number of people who died on the roads, from skin cancer or during a violent crime.
Yet we don’t build memorials by the side of the road, we don’t mention victims in the newspaper and there aren’t many corporations who pick it as the cause they most want to fight.
Instead, they associate themselves with more fashionable causes of the day.
We need a very public debate on why people decide that ending their life is better than living it. What pushes people to the edge and how do they fall through? What are the pressures and factors behind these deaths?
When we want to work out how someone dies, the coroner has an inquest.
But the problem is that our system only records how the death occurred; no effort is made to work out why.
There needs to be a study about why more men end up here.
Of course, each situation is deeply personal and I’m not suggesting other people need to be blamed or held criminally responsible for a person’s decision to end their life. But what I am saying is that we need to study the reasons why to see if there are things that overlap.
You would usually seek out this section of the paper for some hot take on politics and some big hits on people in the news, but I wanted to take this moment to speak to the thousands of families affected by suicide this year, and the hundreds of thousands in years before that.
Strength and love to the parents, siblings and mates of those left behind. We see you. Your pain matters. But most of all, to someone who may be on the edge: I want you to know someone cares. Do all you can to find a way to put one foot in front of the other today.
Search out that sunset you like, look forward to the perfect song on the radio or just get out of the house for 15 minutes. For those who aren’t on the edge, reach out to someone you haven’t seen for a while. A simple text will do. Have a chat to a stranger and don’t hold on to family grudges. We can’t beat suicide with little things alone, but we can do our bit to save people from the crippling feeling of being alone. You can call Lifeline on 13 11 14, Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, Mensline Australia on 1300 78 99 78 or the Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467. STOKED IN WASHINGTON THIS time last week I was standing in the Oval Office at the White House. I’m not showing off, I just wanted to share the experience with you.
Our PM was in town at the request of President Trump.
The Donald was out to impress. Everything was turned up to 11 — the words of praise, the fancy dinner in the Rose Garden and the Aussie flag flying beside the Stars and Stripes at every turn.
While most of the cynical Trump-hating media types who tagged along won’t admit it publicly, and will chide me for even telling you, but they were all stoked to be there.
I saw them taking selfies as they walked in and witnessed them huddle for a glimpse of the leaders together like kids getting a glimpse of a famous singer.
TV reporters who already had a camera crew had their iPhones out, while some of the nastiest Tweeters could be seen posing for photos behind the press room podium.
For a moment, Australia was the centre of the Trump universe. That matters.
This is a president who relies on personal relationships, and he clearly has a strong one with our prime minister.
While Trump’s not everyone’s cup of tea, quiet Australians wish him nothing but the best and we’re proud to see the red carpet rolled out for people wearing RMs.