What is the National Suicide Prevention Strategy?
The Australian Government's National Suicide Prevention Strategy promotes suicide prevention activities across the Australian population, as well as for specific at-risk groups.
Its goal is to reduce deaths by suicide and reduce suicidal behaviour by:
- adopting a whole of community approach to suicide prevention to extend and enhance public understanding of suicide and its causes; and
- increasing support and care available to people, families and communities affected by suicide or suicidal behaviour by providing better support systems.
Responsibility for managing the National Suicide Prevention Strategy rests with the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.
Why is this important?
Nearly two thousand Australians take their own lives every year with impacts on families, friends, workplaces and communities.
People from all ages and from all walks of life in Australia take their own life and the causes often appear to be a complex mix of adverse life events, social and geographical isolation, cultural and family background, socio-economic disadvantage, genetic makeup, mental and physical health, the extent of support of family and friends, and the ability of a person to manage life events and bounce back from adversity.
- In 2007, the most recent year for which mortality data are available, there were 1,881 registered deaths from suicide representing an overall rate of 9.0 per 100,000. Suicide accounts for approximately 1.3% of all deaths in Australia.
- The rates of suicide in Australia have fallen consistently since a peak in 1997 when 2,720 suicide deaths were registered.
- Male suicides continue to outnumber female suicides, accounting for 77% of all suicide deaths in 2007.
- As in recent years, the highest age-specific suicide death rates for males occurred in those aged 85 years and over (22.8 per 100,000). However, suicide deaths were a relatively low proportion of the total deaths (0.2%) due to the relatively small population in this group.
- In the younger age groups, the highest rates for males aged 25 to 34 years and 35 to 44 years (20.5 and 20.8 per 100,000 respectively.
- However, rates for young males aged 15-24 years (12.5 per 100,000) were low compared to men overall, as was the rate for 65-74 year olds (12.2 per 100,000).
- For females, the age-specific death rates were highest for those aged 45-54 years and 55-64 years (both 5.7 per 100,000) and, by contrast to males, lowest for elderly females aged 75-84 years and 85 years and over (3.3 and 3.9 per 100,000).
1. 3303.0 - Suicides, Australia, 2007 Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Who will benefit?
Projects under the National Suicide Prevention Strategy target the whole of the population as well as groups identified as being at greater risk of suicide, such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, men aged between 20 and 54, people with a mental illness and people living in rural and remote areas. The program also targets those bereaved by suicide who are known to be at higher risk of suicide themselves.
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What will National Suicide Prevention Strategy deliver?
The goal of the National Suicide Prevention Strategy is to reduce deaths by suicide across the population and among at risk groups, and reduce suicidal behaviour. To inform and support this goal, the Australian Government is working together with communities across Australia to build resilience, resourcefulness and social connectedness in people, families and communities to protect against the risk factors for suicide.
The National Suicide Prevention Strategy supports national and community based initiatives and projects that enhance the capacity of individuals and services to access information and provide support and training on suicide prevention. These projects also aim to increase the number of individuals seeking help regarding their emotional and social wellbeing and increase the identification, referral and treatment of at risk individuals by service systems and professionals.
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How does it work?
The NSPS is supported by a number of resources including the Living Is For Everyone: a framework for prevention of suicide in Australia. The Framework provides a practical suite of resources and research findings on how to address the complex issues of suicide and suicide prevention.
Membership of the new Australian Suicide Prevention Advisory Council (ASPAC) was announced on 10 September 2008. ASPAC will provide a forum for expert service providers, researchers and clinicians to share expertise, contribute to national decision-making processes and to identify community needs and priorities for the National Suicide Prevention Strategy. More information on ASPAC can be found at www.livingisforeveryone.com.au.
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What funding is attached to this Strategy?
The total funding attached to the NSPS is $127.1 million for 2006-07 to 2011-12. This includes an additional $62.4 million over five years towards Expanding Suicide Prevention Programmes provided as part of the Commonwealth's component of the COAG National Action Plan on Mental Health 2006 - 2011.
When did the National Suicide Prevention Strategy start?
The National Suicide Prevention Strategy commenced in 1999.
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How is the National Suicide Prevention Strategy progressing?
- A workplan for the National Suicide Prevention Strategy (NSPS) was approved by the Minister for Health and Ageing in June 2008 which outlines directions and priorities for the NSPS for the period 2008-2009.
- This workplan is characterised by a number of significant shifts in approach to suicide prevention:
- a more collaborative and planned approach to the implementation of community-based suicide prevention activities through partnerships with state and territory governments via COAG and directly with community organisations;
- a shift to supporting service provision for individuals at greatest risk of suicide, particularly individuals who have attempted suicide or self harm or who are otherwise at high risk of suicide;
- a stronger emphasis on support for people at risk of suicide in rural and remote areas of Australia; and
- more proactive and targeted support for other high risk groups, including people bereaved by suicide, Indigenous people, people with a mental illness, young people and men.
- ASPAC is currently providing advice on the development of a new workplan to define priorities for the period 2009-2011.
What's been done in the past?
The National Suicide Prevention Strategy builds on the former National Youth Suicide Prevention Strategy, which existed between 1995-1999.
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Further Information
The National Suicide Prevention Strategy website: www.livingisforeveryone.com.au
The LIFE framework: http://www.livingisforeveryone.com.au/LIFE-Resources.html
Research and Evidence in Suicide Prevention: http://www.livingisforeveryone.com.au/LIFE-Resources.html
Fact sheet of projects funded under the National Suicide Prevention Strategy: www.livingisforeveryone.com.au/Projects.html
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Page currency, Latest update: 07 August, 2008