Bureaucrats at every level to be ’held accountable’ for suicide rate

Government bureaucrats at every level will have to consider suicide prevention measures under a landmark push to stem the tide of self-harm.

Bureaucrats in every government department will be grilled on how they’re helping prevent suicides under a landmark push to stem the tide of self-harm.

With the first half of 2022 being our most deadly in four years, the NSW Opposition will introduce a “Suicide Act” of parliament if elected in March.

Under the plan every government agency will be responsible for showing how it is reducing suicide rates.

The push is seen as a way to reach those people who are suffering in silence.

Half of the 900-plus people who die in NSW every year from suicide are not interacting with mental health care services.

Lotte Carter, 21, who suffers from depression and anxiety, says a suicide prevention act would be effective because people would be held accountable. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“We will consult widely, including with family members of those who have taken their own life, to ensure the legislation is both comprehensive but also practical in its application,” NSW Opposition health spokesman Ryan Park said.

“All of us have a responsibility to do everything in our power to reduce the pain and suffering that occurs every time a person takes their own life.”

The state lost 431 people to suicide from January to May this year, compared to 353 in 2020 and 399 last year.

The state government has a target of reducing suicides by 20 per cent by 2023, yet has achieved only half that.

Sydney woman Lotte Carter has endured numerous suicide attempts, driven by ongoing depression, anxiety, anorexia, post traumatic stress disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder.

She backed the plan, saying “if someone is held accountable then it becomes more of a priority”. “This should happen as soon as possible,” the 21-year-old said.

Opposition health spokesman Ryan Park.

Suicide Prevention Australia said funding the drafting and consultation on the development of a NSW Suicide Prevention Act would cost taxpayers $900,000.

SPA deputy CEO Matthew McLean said the new rules would, for example, result in departments looking after social housing “to think about what they can do to support suicide prevention”.

“That might mean training up their case workers with suicide prevention training so that if they’re interacting with a client that is at risk, they can identify those signs and refer them to the right person,” Mr McLean said.

“We know that people who have housing insecurity are at a higher rate of suicide in our community.”

He said agencies dealing with the construction industry would also be targeted.

Men in the construction industry are 53 per cent more likely to die by suicide than other employed men.

The plan could also include a Suicide Prevention Council comprised of senior public sector officials, MPs and suicide prevention leaders in the community.

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