Suicide: Labor calls for NSW royal commission into mental health
After close to 1000 suicides, Labor is calling for a NSW royal commission into mental health to find out ‘what’s gone so terribly wrong’ in the provision of lifesaving services.
NSW
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With almost 1000 people taking their own lives in NSW last year, Labor has called for a Royal Commission into mental health and suicide.
The state opposition said the issue needs to be taken out of the “too hard” basket and there is an urgent need for a “hard look” at mental health and suicide, especially among young people.
In a speech to be delivered after the State Budget, Labor leader Jodi McKay will outline the scope of the proposed inquiry, which would examine funding for prevention and early intervention to acute and emergency responses.
It would also examine the availability of services, co-ordination and the effectiveness of policies and programs to prevent mental illness, as well as workforce recruitment, retention and development, partnerships and collaboration between Government and non-government providers and data and research
“Too many young people are dying by suicide,” Ms McKay said.
“At the height of the drought, men were taking their own lives. Mental health is a huge problem and families are going through hell across NSW because they’re not getting the support they need.
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“We must urgently ensure mental health services are accessible for young people in schools and for everyone in regional and rural NSW. I’m calling for a Royal Commission to get to the bottom of what’s gone so terribly wrong in the provision of mental health services.”
Ms McKay said the call for a Royal Commission was “not about party politics or assigning blame”, declaring she would stand alongside Premier Gladys Berejiklian should she adopt such an inquiry.
Figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show there were 937 suicide deaths in 2019 — a 50 per cent increase since 2011.
In NSW, almost half of the population are expected to experience mental illness in their lifetime, regardless of their age, location or background.
According to the state opposition, around four in 10 mental health patients wait more than four hours for emergency care, with some waiting as long as 24 hours in the emergency department.
Labor argues that a Commission would be the only way to provide a ”once-in-a-generation” reform opportunity to benefit all citizens in NSW.
