Mental Health

National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Strategy

Developing Australia's first national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander suicide prevention strategy.

Recommendation 27 of the 2010 Senate Inquiry report The Hidden Toll: Suicide in Australia called for the development of a separate suicide prevention strategy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities within the National Suicide Prevention Strategy.

The Australian Government's response, tabled on 24 November 2010, supported this recommendation and on 10 September 2011, Minister Butler jointly announced with Ministers Macklin and Snowdon the establishment of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Advisory Group to guide the development of the strategy. The advisory group is chaired by Dr Tom Calma AO, former Social Justice Commissioner.

On 1 June 2012, Menzies School of Health Research was appointed to develop the draft strategy. Menzies is working with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Advisory Group to ensure the strategy is comprehensive and backed by a strong evidence base. Community consultation forums in capital cities and regional locations of each state and territory will ensure the specific needs of at risk groups are included in the final strategy.

To support the consultation process and the development of the strategy, Menzies has developed a web site which houses all promotional and communication material including an overview of the process, a consultation paper, and a discussion paper. The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Strategy web site is available at www.indigenoussuicideprevention.org.au.