Suicide prevention: New data and mental health strategies reduce deaths

Publishing monthly suicide data to better assist support groups to respond to distressed communities is working, the state government says, with a statewide decline in deaths.

Publishing monthly suicide data to better assist support groups to respond to distressed communities is working, the state government says, with a statewide decline in deaths.

Reacting to a campaign by The Courier-Mail’s Bush Summit pushing for real-time notifications, as recommended by Suicide Prevention Australia, Health Minister Shannon Fentiman introduced the improved register in September.

Now exclusive data shows that within just three months, the monthly register has had a positive impact – along with other mental health strategies.

From January to November 2022 there were 796 deaths and in the same period in 2023 the number dropped to 702 across the state. The decline bucks the national trend, which shows an increase in the number of deaths by suicide.

Queensland Health Minister Shannon Fentiman introduced the improved register.

An investment of $11.5m into the monthly register was delivered by the government following a series of reports in The Courier-Mail outlining the horrific extent of suicide within the state.

The funding is part of the government’s $1.64bn cash injection into mental health, alcohol and other drug services via the Better Care Together plan, funded by the mental health levy on big businesses.

The monthly data reporting brings Queensland into line with other jurisdictions and is now publicly available online to inform local suicide prevention responses for health and hospital services, primary health networks, stakeholders and service providers.

Queensland previously had a suicide register, run by Griffith University, but a report was only prepared once a year.

Queensland Mental Health Commissioner Ivan Frkovic said having comprehensive data and information not only guided prevention responses but also helped with the assessment of whether suicide prevention activities were having an impact.

“The commission is committed to building the evidence base around suicide and suicide prevention and supporting the collection and use of high-quality data to inform policy and practice,” he said.

The mental health levy will also fund 126 new mental health, alcohol, and other drug beds over the next five years, 252 frontline mental health workers, almost $48m to boost community treatment services and expand specialist alcohol and other drug responses in EDs, almost $40m to deliver a comprehensive network of eating disorder services, including 34 additional staff.

“Every suicide has a tragic and life-altering impact on families and communities,” Ms Fentiman said.

“That is why anything we can do to improve how we understand and respond to suicide is vitally important.

“Our government recognises that high-quality data provides the foundation for effective and timely suicide prevention, which is why we are funding this through our $1.64bn Better Care Together plan. I am proud of the work we are doing through Better Care Together, which is having a real difference on the lives of Queenslanders living with mental ill health and substance misuse.”

Support services

Lifeline 13 11 14

Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467

Beyond Blue 1300 224 636