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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2021-09-09 Daily Xml
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Suicide Prevention

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (14:34): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Health and Wellbeing about suicide prevention.

Leave granted.

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS: On the eve of World Suicide Prevention Day and with today being R U OK? Day it was pleasing to see the nation-leading introduction of the Suicide Prevention Bill 2021 in this place yesterday. It follows a strong, demonstrable commitment to suicide prevention by this government and builds on the landmark investment in mental health for South Australians in the June 2021 state budget. Will the minister update the council on the broader work in suicide prevention?

The PRESIDENT: I remind the minister that he can't anticipate debate on the bill because the bill is now before us, but I invite the minister to answer the question with that knowledge.

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:35): Sorry, sir, the question didn't relate to the bill at all. The question I understood the honourable member was asking was to update the council on the broader work in suicide prevention.

The PRESIDENT: The explanation referred to the bill.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: I'm not answering the explanation; I'm answering the question.

The PRESIDENT: No, but you are—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The minister will proceed with that knowledge.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. K.J. Maher interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order, the Leader of the Opposition!

The Hon. S.G. WADE: I certainly focus on questions. I thank the honourable member for his question and his interest in the government's work on suicide prevention and in supporting the mental health of South Australians. With World Suicide Prevention Day tomorrow I think it is timely to reflect on the work that has been done by this government on suicide prevention in the past 3½ years.

In July 2018, the first ever meeting of a Premier's Council on Suicide Prevention anywhere in this country was held. In delivering on a promise from the opposition, the Premier appointed you, Mr President, as Australia's first Premier's Advocate for Suicide Prevention. The Premier also highlighted Australia's first Premier's Council on Suicide Prevention, bringing together a wealth of lived experience participants, subject matter experts, service provision leaders and community members who represent specific at-risk groups within the community, to form that council.

Since that time, the Premier's council has met regularly and worked assiduously. It has considered dozens of presentations and representations from people with lived experience and it has engaged with the state Coroner in relation to means and methods of suicide and the Coroner's findings. The council has worked with Professor Nicholas Proctor from the University of South Australia to undertake a rapid review of film and other fiction and non-fiction media around the portrayal of suicide and self-harm.

This initiative resulted in the commonwealth classification authority rating ripple effect movies and producing a Walking through the Minefield brochure which is delivered when hosting media or theatre events that contain themes of suicidal behaviours. The council established an ongoing review of the SA Postvention Referral Mechanism situated in the Coronial Investigation Branch of SAPOL, where bereaved families are linked to bereavement support services.

The council has overseen the establishment of a whole-of-government issues group on suicide prevention, with the inaugural meeting held in October 2018. The issues group are a working group of the Premier's council and can act on and implement recommendations of the council or their own plans, and work across government departments. The issues group is looking at how data around vulnerability to suicide can be captured and better utilised across government to enhance support response.

The council played a key role in reviewing and providing information to inform the consultation draft of the Suicide Prevention Bill. Beyond the council, SA Health has been active in promoting suicide prevention. A South Australian tertiary education suicide prevention group has been established, and work to establish seven new suicide prevention networks is ongoing.

In March 2019, a youth summit on suicide prevention was held in collaboration with the Office of the Chief Psychiatrist involving 100 attendees from government, non-government, youth representatives, the Premier's council and suicide prevention network members. On this and every day it is essential that government and the community work together on suicide prevention, including postvention following the loss of a loved one from suicide, as we aspire towards zero suicide as a South Australian community.

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