What is the National Suicide Prevention Strategy?
The National Suicide Prevention Strategy promotes suicide prevention activities across the Australian population as well as for specific at-risk groups. The National Suicide Prevention Strategy has four key inter–related components:
- The Living Is For Everyone (LIFE) Framework, which sets an overarching evidence based strategic policy framework for suicide prevention in Australia;
- The National Suicide Prevention Strategy Action Framework, which provides a time limited workplan for taking forward suicide prevention investment and leverage;
- The National Suicide Prevention Program (NSPP), which is the Australian Government funding program dedicated to suicide prevention activities; and
- Mechanisms to promote alignment with and enhance state and territory suicide prevention activities, particularly to progress the relevant actions of related national frameworks, such as the COAG National Action Plan for Mental Health 2006–2011 and the Fourth National Mental Health Plan 2009–14.
Why is this important?
Nearly two thousand two hundred 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 2008, the most recent year for which mortality data are available, there were 2,191 registered deaths from suicide representing an overall rate of 10.2 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 78% of all suicide deaths in 2008.
Rates of suicide were generally high among males in their 30s and 40s, with the highest age-specific suicide death rate for males occurring in those 40-44 years (26.4 per 100,000). This represents 16% of all male deaths for those aged 40-44 years.
The 2008 age-specific death rate for those males aged 85 years and over was also very high at 26.2 per 100,000 population, however suicide deaths were relatively low proportion of total deaths (0.2%) in this age group due to the relatively small population.
While the 2008 Age-specific death rate for young males aged 15-19 years (9.4 per 100,000) was the lowest for men overall, it is still accounting for a very high proportion of deaths among young males.
1) 3303.0 - Suicides, Australia, 2008 Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Who will benefit?
Projects funded through the National Suicide Prevention Program 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, people with a mental illness, people living in rural and remote areas, youth and people bereaved by suicide who are known to be at higher risk of suicide themselves.
What will the 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 Program 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.
How does it work?
The National Suicide Prevention Strategy is supported by a number of resources including the Living is for Everyone Framework: a Framework for Prevention of Suicide and Self-Harm in Australia. The framework provides a strategic plan for national action to prevent suicide and promote mental health and resilience across the Australian population. In addition it provides a practical suite of resources and research findings on how to address the complex issues of suicide and suicide prevention.
The Australian Suicide Prevention Advisory Council also provides 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 can be found at www.livingisforeveryone.com.au
What funding is attached to this program?
The total funding attached to the National Suicide Prevention Strategy 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 2000, building upon the former National Youth Suicide Prevention Strategy.
How is the National Suicide Prevention Strategy progressing?
The Australian Suicide Prevention Advisory Council has, in collaboration with the Department of Health and Ageing, developed the National Suicide Prevention Strategy Action Framework to guide the Australian Government’s strategic directions and priorities in suicide prevention and self–harm for the period 2009–2011.
The Australian Suicide Prevention Advisory Council and the Department of Health and Ageing work together through the implementation of the Action Framework to provide national leadership in suicide prevention activity and policy.
The Action Framework describes the activities to be undertaken by the Australian Suicide Prevention Advisory Council and the Department of Health and Ageing to June 2011 to progress the Australian Government’s suicide prevention efforts.
It has two primary purposes:
- To help the Australian Suicide Prevention Advisory Council plan and manage the provision of confidential advice to the Australian Government through the Minister for Health and Ageing on strategic directions and priorities in relation to suicide prevention and self–harm; and
- To help the Department of Health and Ageing plan and manage the implementation of the National Suicide Prevention Program for 2009–10 to 2010–11.
What’s been done in the past?
Australia was one of the first countries to establish a specific national suicide prevention strategy and accompanying dedicated program of funding. Initially the focus was on youth suicide.
The National Suicide Prevention Strategy builds on the former National Youth Suicide Prevention Strategy, which existed between 1995 and 1999.
Further information
Living is For Everyone – www.livingisforeveryone.com.au
National Suicide Prevention Strategies: A comparison - Summary of Australian and international strategies by the University of Queensland (PDF 843 KB)
Page currency, Latest update: 04 November, 2010