Suicide Prevention

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS (14:55): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, representing the Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, a question regarding suicide prevention strategies.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS: In late July this year, I attended the Suicide Prevention Australia Conference in Perth, entitled 'Many Communities, One Goal'. It was attended by a number of experts and practitioners in the sector from around the country and overseas and had great support from the Western Australian Minister for Mental Health, the Hon. Helen Morton MLC. At this conference I took particular note of the discussions and presentations specifically about strategies surrounding postvention for individuals bereaved by suicide.

The word 'postvention' is a term used in the field which refers to an intervention which occurs after a suicide, usually taking the shape of support for the bereaved family members, friends or co-workers in an effort to help them deal with the loss they have just experienced and to try to alleviate suicidal tendencies they may have following the event.

In the past 10 years alone, it is estimated that more than 200,000 people have been directly affected by another person's death by suicide. One of the plenary sessions at the conference was specifically tailored around lowering that statistic, with the concept that postvention is the prevention of suicide for the future.

The conference also had a significant focus on developing networks of people with lived experience in suicide. Lived experience is defined by Australia's peak suicide prevention body, Suicide Prevention Australia, as having experienced suicidal thoughts, survived a suicide attempt, cared for someone who has attempted suicide, been bereaved by suicide or having been touched by suicide in another way.

Suicide Prevention Australia formed a Lived Experience Committee in 2012 to provide advice on strategy, policy and activities to the body. The committee comprises a number of Australians from all walks of life who have had their own diverse experiences of suicide. My question to the minister is: what resources has the government committed to advance postvention and lived experience strategies in line with the South Australian Suicide Prevention Plan?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (14:58): I thank the honourable member for his most important question and particularly for his long-standing interest and advocacy in this very important area of public policy. I will take the questions the honourable member has asked to the Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse in the other place and seek a response on his behalf.