Now is the time to act on shocking statistics

IT’S statistics that we wish were wrong. The latest Suicide in Queensland Annual Report reveals suicide rates among women have surged and the suicide rate among men in the Townsville region is the second highest in Queensland.

It shows there were 813 suspected suicides in 2021, a figure that is 3.6 per cent higher than in 2020 and exceeds the record of 806 deaths in 2017.

The report suggests the Covid-19 pandemic could be responsible for the increase.

While we know there are sometimes no answers when it comes to suicide, we do know that suicide prevention is key.

The 2022-23 State Budget will provide an additional $1.645 billion over five years and a capital investment of $28.5 million to improve mental health, alcohol and other drug services, and for a range of initiatives to support suicide prevention.

But Suicide Prevention Australia CEO Nieves Murray says it is critical that the government “urgently focuses on suicide prevention to keep suicide rates from rising during this challenging time”.

We know that just one suicide is one too many, and we must hope for a future where there are none.

We have come a long way in removing the stigma associated with mental health but, given the grim statistics of this report, we also know we have a long way to go.

“Every life lost to suicide is one too many and represents the devastating loss of an individual person whose passing has significant and lasting impact on family, friends, colleagues and communities,” Queensland Mental Health Commissioner Ivan Frkovic said.

Lifeline: 13 11 14

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