Why experts say suicide rates are high in regional Qld

One person takes their life every six days in Far North Queensland which is shockingly 50 per cent higher than the national average.

After 29 years of improving mental health services in Cairns and Far North Dulcie Bird founded the Edward Koch Foundation in 1995, and while it recently closed its doors, it has given her decades of experience in working with young, suicidal people. Picture: Brendan Radke

One person takes their life every six days in Far North Queensland which is shockingly 50 per cent higher than the national average.

The alarming data from the Australian Institute Health and Welfare shows 224 people died by suicide across the region between 2018 and 2022.

Suicide rates are the highest in Queensland’s most marginalised communities where unemployment is the highest in the nation — Kownayama, Doomadgee, Mornington Island and Yarrabah.

Mt Isa has twice the national average of suicides with high numbers also in Townsville, Rockhampton and Bundaberg.

Griffith University research shows that 25% of people who complete suicide are unemployed.

Dr Mandy Gibson from the Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention said regional and rural Queensland was more likely to be impacted by suicide because of fewer health services, higher rates of joblessness, lower incomes and poverty.

“Sadly it’s really common to report highest suicide rates in areas where there is more poverty and where there is less opportunity. That kind of feeds into like that can be like hopelessness,” she said.

Dulcie Bird, recently retired chief executive of the Edward Koch Foundation, has spent decades working in suicide prevention in Cairns.

She said unemployment was “one of the worst factors” contributing to the Far North’s suicide rate.

“Additionally I’d say remoteness, living in a natural disaster area, rising cost of living, drugs and alcohol,” she said.

Gill Townsend, Senior Manager (Suicide Prevention) at Beacon Strategies, which leads suicide prevention action across Far North Queensland through Life Promotion and Suicide Prevention FNQ. Picture: Supplied.

Research from Griffith University shows 25 per cent of people who commit suicide are unemployed.

The report adds of all individuals who died by suicide in 2016 to 2018, labourers and machine operators/drivers were the largest occupational group (194, 8.2 per cent), followed by technicians and tradespersons (142, 6 per cent).

Among First Nations people aged 0–24 and 25–44, suicide rates were more than three times as high than the rest of the population.

Financial problems and relationship breakdown are two of the most cited precursor events for people who suicide.

Ms Bird added “fear and social isolation” caused by high crime rates in regional cities, contributed to the high rates.

“But to me that is part of the same problem – crime is caused by social disadvantage and unemployment, and that is something we need to address,” she said.

Gill Townsend, Senior Manager (Suicide Prevention) at Beacon Strategies, said “housing, homelessness, employment, relationship breakdown, drugs and alcohol, domestic and family violence” contributed to poor mental health.

Ms Townsend said reducing suicide must be a priority for the region and nation.

“How do we teach young people to have good, solid relationships? How do we create societies that have happy, healthy, green spaces where people can live and thrive?” she said.

“Suicide can happen to anyone.”

Lifeline: 13 11 14

Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467

SANEAustralia Tel: 1800 18 SANE (7263)

Beyond Blue: 1300 22 46 36

Originally published as Why experts say suicide rates are high in regional Qld