Qld housing crisis puts homeless at risk of suicide

Housing access and affordability has been identified as the fastest growing stressor for suicide, with calls for urgent relief to prevent a wave of deaths. SPECIAL REPORT

Queensland Council of Social Service chief executive Aimee McVeigh

• Editor’s view: Shock toll must spur action

The state’s housing crisis is having a harrowing effect on Queenslanders’ mental health, new research has revealed.

The data released by Suicide Prevention Australia shows housing is the fastest-growing suicide stressor, with Queenslanders more at risk than most other Australians.

While there has been a stark rise in the number of people with suicidal ideations due to housing affordability and availability, the cost of living and personal debt remain the No.1 concern.

Middle-aged and middle-wage Australians are not escaping the worries of housing access and affordability, with a spike in the numbers of those earning as much as $149,000 a year admitting to distress.

The Courier-Mail’s Hitting Home campaign has delved into the housing crisis in Queensland, focusing on the growing number of people unable to find a home, as rental availability plummets and the cost of buying a home skyrockets.

The Suicide Prevention Community Tracker highlights that last month more Queenslanders experienced suicidal thoughts or attempts than anyone else in the country – a startling 27 per cent.

More than one in five in the state (23 per cent) were worried about housing access and affordability.

Nationally, the numbers show housing stress affected 28 per cent of Australians aged 25-34 – a 6 per cent rise in three months since August, 28 per cent of those aged 35-49, up 9 per cent, as well as 21 per cent of Australians earning $100,000-$149,000 per year, which was up 7 per cent and 25 per cent of households with children (under 18), up 6 per cent.

Suicide Prevention Australia chief executive Nieves Murray said: “It’s clear from this data that suicide does not discriminate.

“Sadly, it too often touches a significant number of Australians in all corners of our community.

“It also reiterates the importance of the government focusing on improving housing supply and affordability, as this is clearly causing many Australians elevated distress.”

“We know 88 per cent of frontline suicide prevention services experienced increased demand in the past 12 months …

“It’s important that we are able to provide timely support when and where they need it most.

“A relief package will help our members do this.

“Our findings once again prove the clear link between the impact of rising economic and social pressures and distress levels in the community.”

Queensland Council of Social Service chief executive Aimee McVeigh said Queenslanders needed hope that there was a way out of the housing crisis.

“They need to know when there will be housing available. The Queensland government needs to commit to building 5000 houses every year for a decade,” she said.