Ministers statements: suicide prevention
Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (12:03): Today I rise to acknowledge that yesterday was World Suicide Prevention Day. On this very significant day I was very proud to join the Parliament, my government colleagues, lived experience advocates and sector representatives, including the Parliamentary Secretary for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Tim Richardson, to officially launch Victoria’s new suicide prevention and response strategy. Each death by suicide is one too many. We know that for every suicide there are many more people who are deeply affected, and the impact on family, friends and the community can be devastating. We also know that suicide is not just a health issue; the causes are complex and can include social and economic pressures faced by individuals. That is why our new strategy outlines a shared vision: all Victorians working together to reduce suicide, which commits us all to working across government to target the drivers of stresses and distress that sit outside our health and mental health systems. A key recommendation of the royal commission, this new strategy forms a crucial part of the ongoing transformation of Victoria’s mental health and wellbeing system, and this strategy will complement the important reforms already underway to implement its suicide prevention and response related recommendations.
We have already expanded the hospital outreach post-suicidal engagement, or HOPE, initiative statewide to 33 sites across Victoria, a life-saving aftercare service for people who attend a hospital emergency following a suicide attempt, including establishing four additional HOPE services for children and young people. We have also established a dedicated suicide prevention and response office within the Department of Health to strengthen Victoria’s suicide prevention and response efforts and deliver a system-based, whole-of-government and community-wide approach to suicide prevention and response. The Allan Labor government is committed to building a stronger mental health and wellbeing outcome for all Victorians, and this suicide prevention strategy provides us with that opportunity.