Thursday, 10 September 2026

 Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ambulance Services, Special Minister of State) (12:24): Today is World Suicide Prevention Day, which is an important day for all of us to come together to raise awareness and take action to prevent suicide in our communities. Every life lost to suicide is one too many, and we know that the impact of suicide reaches far beyond the individual affected families, friends, colleagues and communities and that it often leaves a profound and lasting grief.

Since the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System we have established a suicide prevention and response office to strengthen Victoria’s suicide prevention and response efforts and deliver a systems-based, whole-of-government and community-wide approach. SPARO has been central to delivering Victoria’s suicide prevention and response strategy. Co-designed with people with lived and living experience of suicide, the strategy sets out our long-term approach to reducing suicide and supporting people impacted by suicide. The release of the strategy’s first annual report provides an important opportunity to reflect on how this commitment is being put into practice. It highlights the progress made during the strategy’s first year, including strengthening community-led and peer-based supports and expanding targeted supports for young people, LGBTIQA+ Victorians, families and carers. Additionally, the Victorian government is also trialling a distress support service in Greater Shepparton, delivered by Mind Australia, and in the City of Darebin, delivered by ermha365 in partnership with the Commonwealth.

I also want to acknowledge the many dedicated workers, volunteers, organisations and people with lived experience who contribute to suicide prevention across Victoria every day. Today is a reminder that preventing suicide is everyone’s business. We need to come together to build communities where people feel connected, where people experiencing distress are supported and where no-one feels they have to face their struggles alone.