Prevention flagged as best course to curb growing suicide rate

ONE of Toowoomba’s leading mental health advocates has called for a greater focus on prevention to blunt a spike in suicide and hospitalisation from acute mental illness.

Momentum Mental Health CEO Debbie Bailey said events like R U OK Day were important to get people talking about mental health before problems escalated.

“It cost us nothing – just a bit of time and the ability to ask a few questions,” she said.

“Resources at the pointy end of mental health are always stretched, we do struggle and there are long wait times for psychiatrist appointments.”

R U OK Day encourages everyone to reach out to the people in their lives, to see how they are feeling and to have an honest conversation about mental health.

It is a big problem locally with the Darling Downs and West Moreton Public Health Network home to the highest suicide rate in Australia.

In 2019, 21.4 people per 100,000 took their lives.

This compare to a national average of 13.2.

Ms Bailey said recent reports of suicide led to an increase in calls for help.

“Suicide is a real problem, and until we start working on prevention we will not stem the tide,” she said.

“It takes an entire community to work together to start to see a difference.”

If you need help call:

■ Lifeline: 13 11 14

■ Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636

■ Kids Helpline: 1800 551 800

■ Mensline: 1300 789 978

■ Headspace: 1800 650 890

■ Qlife: 1800 184 527