Penny Wright (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that a disproportionately high number of completed suicides and suicide attempts involve men in rural areas; and

(b) calls on the Government to implement the key recommendations of the Community Affairs References Committee report The hidden toll: Suicide in Australia, including:

(i) funding a national suicide prevention and awareness campaign, to run for at least 5 years, and

(ii) targeted measures to help prevent the incidence of suicide among high-risk groups in regional Australia.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I seek leave to make a short statement.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There being no objection, leave is granted for one minute.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government is committed to building a world class mental health system that delivers appropriate services to support people experiencing mental health issues and their families. The National Mental Health Commission is currently undertaking a review of mental health and suicide prevention programs across Australia. The review is looking at whether services are being properly targeted and ensuring that services are not being duplicated or unnecessarily burdened by red tape. As part of this process the commission will assess whether there are any gaps in mental health and suicide prevention and post intervention services, research and workforce development and training, along with considering the particular challenges of providing services in rural, regional and remote Australia.

The review is important to ensure that services are being properly targeted and that funding is going to programs that have proven the most effective. The report referred to in the motion, The Hidden Toll: Suicide in Australia, was produced in mid 2010. The commission is considering a broad range of previous reports along with conducting consultations and receiving submissions as part of the review.

Question agreed to.