Suicide Prevention

Ms VLAHOS (Taylor) (14:47): My question is to the Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse. Today is World Suicide Prevention Day. Can the Minister for Health outline what the state government is doing to support suicide prevention in South Australia?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Health Industries) (14:48): I would like to thank the member for Taylor, who is also parliamentary secretary, for her question and her interest in working with stakeholders and the community to improve our mental health system. I note, in the last few days, the secretary has been involved in a forum with the RSL and other veterans' organisations to talk about the work South Australia is doing to assist veterans with post-traumatic stress and to explore new and innovative ways to deliver veterans' mental health services.

Every suicide is a tragedy, and the South Australian government is committed to preventing suicide and supporting those bereaved by suicide. To this end, the government is committed to maintaining and updating its suicide prevention strategy and it has committed an additional $1 million in funding every year specifically for suicide prevention and prevention initiatives.

Around $0.5 million has been committed to beyondblue and Lifeline for depression, anxiety and suicide awareness and telephone crisis support services. Recently, the parliamentary secretary and I met with the chair of beyondblue, the Hon. Jeff Kennett AC, to discuss beyondblue's work and, in particular, the impact of depression and higher risk of suicide among first responders, including our paramedics, police and firefighters. As a result of these discussions, the parliamentary secretary has committed to working further in this area on behalf of the government to see how we can support the important work beyondblue is doing to assist our first responders.

Suicide prevention is a whole of government and, indeed, a whole of community problem, and that's why the government also wants to work with and empower local communities around the state. We have committed $150,000 to establish and support local suicide prevention networks to raise awareness, reduce stigma, improve individual community resilience and enhance referral pathways. An amount of $150,000 is also being committed for small grants schemes for local suicide prevention initiatives and activities.

This investment has already allowed the establishment of suicide prevention networks in Clare, Gawler, Mid-Murray, Mount Gambier, Murray Bridge, Naracoorte, Playford, Whyalla, Yorke Peninsula, and a South-East Aboriginal suicide prevention network based at Mount Gambier, with discussions underway to establish others. Support has also been given for the suicide prevention work of Aboriginal organisations, an arts group, disability organisations, a men's group, a refugee organisation and a veterans' group, as well as working with other programs such as the commonwealth's Suicide Hotspots program to enhance safety on the Noarlunga rail line.

On World Suicide Prevention Day, it would be remiss of me not to mention the Australian initiative, R U OK?Day. The most effective way to reduce the risk of suicide for a person who is feeling distressed or overwhelmed is genuine connection and engagement from people around them, whether family, friends, work colleagues or service providers. I encourage everyone in the chamber and elsewhere in our community to make a difference to the lives of others today by asking the simple question: R U OK?