Reducing suicide toll

A NEW body has been tasked with reducing the prevalence and impact of suicide in Australia.

Health Minister Greg Hunt on Friday announced the federal government would provide $12.8m to establish the National Suicide Prevention Office.

The office was a key priority identified in the national suicide prevention adviser Christine Morgan’s final advice report last year.

It will cover policy implementation, investment, data collection, research and workforce reform. Ms Morgan said the office was a long-held ambition of many advocates.