Bronnie Taylor: More mental health beds is not the whole answer

We need to do better at engaging with children at risk of suicide to stop the nearly 900 people taking their own lives, writes NSW Mental Health Minister Bronnie Taylor.

It takes a village to raise a child and a village to save one.

Last year in NSW, 894 people took their own lives.

Every single one of those deaths is an absolute tragedy and my heart goes out to their family and friends who will endure unimaginable pain for the rest of their lives.

Last week, when a 17-year-old, a 14-year-old and a 12-year-old took their own lives, the shock reverberated across their tight-knit communities in the Riverina and Murray regions and beyond. The reason we are careful when we talk about suicide is because it can create further harm.

Already in the region there has been an increase in reports of acute suicide risk.

14-year-old Rocky Cavanagh took his own life. Picture: Facebook

NSW Mental Health Minister Bronnie Taylor. Picture: Justin Lloyd

However, we can’t shy away from talking about suicide, we just need to talk about it in the right way. Everyone wants to know how we can stem the tide. I often hear calls for “we need more mental health beds” but that isn’t the whole answer.

The reality is we need to identify and engage with these kids and get them the help they need before it’s too late.

The NSW government’s focus is to provide the best care possible on a case-by-case basis. We need to wrap them in a web of support before they get to this acute touchpoint.

In the Griffith area, there is no waiting list at the community based mental health service, where there are 27 mental health clinicians and psychologists. If a doctor says a patient needs to be in hospital to treat their mental illness, there will be a bed available.

The NSW government has spent $35m on Lifeline, Kids Helpline, Beyond Blue and Black Dog. There is the NSW Mental Health Line and a range of other outreach and community based services.

More than half of those who attempt suicide have not reached out for help from any mental health service in the previous 12 months.

So how do we get our young people to put up their hands and ask for help?

How do we give families, parents and the community better skills to detect and prevent the risk? We need to educate at the grassroots in their communities.

It’s why we are working with local NRL clubs hosting sessions for players and fans teaching them that their mental fitness is as important as their physical fitness.

Help is out there and the more we talk about the what, where and how, the more we will help our kids.