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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-03-22 Daily Xml
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SUICIDE PREVENTION

The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE (14:47): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Regional Development, representing the Minister for Health, a question about suicide.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE: This is a sensitive subject and it is not a political subject but, nevertheless, it is an important issue of public policy. Recent stories in some media about high suicide rates in some regional areas in particular of South Australia are of enormous concern. I acknowledge the work that the Hon. John Dawkins has put forward promoting community responses to eliminating suicide. We also acknowledge Lifeline's work on this matter.

I have expressed concern that our investigation with the health department, where I was seeking some information on suicide rates in South Australia, indicated that the health department did not have any geographical mapping of where suicide or suspected suicide was occurring to deploy government or non-government community suicide postvention and counselling resources into areas so affected. In fact, I advise the minister here that the health department said it had no data, which is of enormous concern. My questions are:

1. What are the rates of suicide in South Australia over the last 10 years, per year?

2. Can the minister, in liaison with the education minister, outline how well the suicide postvention guidelines that have operated within schools since they were released are performing?

3. How much funding or hours of training are provided to public and private bodies servicing schools and the broader community in suicide postvention?

4. Will the government, internally (not for public release), create a process of geographical mapping and alerting of suicide incident rates in sections of the community so that intervention can occur, as it is not, as I understand, presently?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Public Sector Management, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises) (14:49): I thank the honourable member for his most important question, but I think it is a shame that he shows such bias. He states that he does not want to use this as a political issue, yet that is exactly what he has done. I notice that he thanks and acknowledges everyone other than the state government, which committed considerable resources, particularly into drought areas during that time of crisis, particularly around the Riverland.

The state government put in large resources, really significant commitments, to that area to provide a whole raft of support measures, including assistance around mental health and wellbeing and other health issues. There was a range of support services in the form of counselling services, a hotline, referral services, even a buddy type of system where if a person was showing stress someone would call them, drop in and include them in social occasions; so there was a raft of support from highly specialised professional support through to friendship and buddying.

A raft of literature was put out, including a book as well as a wide range of counselling and other on-the-ground support services. A community program equivalent to 'train the trainer' was wheeled out as well that involved a series of community groups and helped to connect their services to ensure that those who were identified as being at risk were highlighted and attended to.

So, I think it is a real shame that the Hon. Robert Brokenshire gives absolutely no recognition whatsoever to those considerable resources that were put into that region. I visited the Riverland just a couple of days ago, and they are still grateful and acknowledging the support that the state government gave during that time.

It's amazing that the honourable members here laugh and scoff, yet those people on the ground, the real people on the ground who lived and worked through a series of adverse events from drought to flood, clearly, as I said, raised with me their gratitude. They acknowledged and indicated how grateful they were for the support that was given and the sensitivity with which this government dealt with them. So, I think it is a real shame. I am not saying that the state government was the only body to lend support—there were others—but I think it is a disgrace that the Hon. Robert Brokenshire failed to give any recognition to the state government. In relation to the specific matters that he raises, I will refer those to the Minister for Health and bring back a response.

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