Legislative Council - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2016-02-24 Daily Xml

Contents

Suicide Prevention Strategy

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS (14:55): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Police, representing the Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, questions about the state Suicide Prevention Strategy 2017-2020.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS: Honourable members will be aware that the state Suicide Prevention Strategy 2012-2016 resulted from the successful passage of motions moved by the honourable member for Adelaide in another place and myself in 2011. Last year, following prompting from me, the then minister for mental health, the member for Playford in another place, advised that preparations for the state Suicide Prevention Strategy 2017-2020 had been initiated. My questions are:

1. Will the minister outline the latest developments and the preparation of the state's Suicide Prevention Strategy 2017-2020?

2. Will the minister confirm that this work is still being led by the Office of the Chief Psychiatrist?

3. Is the Office of the Chief Psychiatrist being provided with additional assistance in this work given the whole-of-government approach that the government has committed to?

4. To what extent have individual government departments been involved in developing the whole-of-government approach?

5. When is it envisaged that the strategy will be released?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS (Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety) (14:56): I thank the honourable member for his important question, mental health being an incredibly important topic within our community. However, I will have to refer the question to the responsible minister in the other place and gain a response for him to ensure an accurate answer.