Question Time

Suicide Prevention

The Hon. K.L. VINCENT (15:15): Supplementary, Mr President: can the minister also outline what the government is doing to support people and prevent suicides—particularly those of young people and LGBTIQ people—in regional areas, given the apparent increased rate of suicide in regional and remote areas?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Climate Change) (15:15): I thank the honourable member for her most important question. The Hon. Mr Dawkins has also raised in this place many times the unacceptable level of suicide in the rural and regional communities of South Australia—a higher proportion, of course. Again, there is some speculation in the literature, I understand, that a large part of that is due to pressure on people as they are exploring their sexuality. It is an important question. I undertake to take that question also to the Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse in the other place on behalf of the Hon. Ms Vincent and seek a response.