A massive one in four Aussies (which equates to roughly five million adults) say they know someone who died by suicide during the past 12 months, a new report has found. Many of those respondents cited issues related the pandemic as contributing factors.
The survey was conducted by Suicide Prevention Australia, the peak body representing suicide prevention orgs around the country, and it’s an important reminder of nationwide perceptions of the issue.
“We know social and economic isolation are the biggest drivers of suicide rates and COVID-19 has seen Australians subject to 18 months of rolling lockdowns and disruption to their personal lives, employment and businesses,” Suicide Prevention Australia CEO Nieves Murray said in a statement ahead of the full report’s release on World Suicide Prevention Day 2021 (Friday, September 10).
“We’ve seen how quickly COVID-19 cases can get out of hand and we need to have the same national policy focus and vigilance to stop suicide rates doing the same.”
While lockdown restrictions are definitely important and have saved countless lives, it’s also worth noting that almost three times as many lives have been lost to suicide in the past 12 months as there have been COVID-related deaths.
That’s why the organisation is calling for a standalone national suicide prevention act which would require all government decisions to consider and mitigate suicide risks for the next two years in a row.
That would see suicide treated not just as a health issue, but as something that can be impacted by all government policies. The report found that two thirds of Aussies would back something like this.
“There have never been more lives lost to suicide in this country,” Murray added.
“Australia needs a national suicide prevention Act and we need to act now.”
When you consider not just the lives lost, but the other people who’s live have been touched by suicide in some way, it becomes clear just how urgently we need to address this issue.
It goes without saying that we live in increasingly unprecedented times. But that’s exactly why we should be looking at how all government policy affects people’s mental health going forward.
If you need mental health support, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or chat online.
Under 25? You can reach Kids Helpline at 1800 55 1800 or chat online.
You can also reach the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 or chat online.
If you require immediate assistance, please call 000.
