Displaying items by tag: suicide prevention

The number of Australians dying by suicide has decreased, with figures showing 2866 people took their lives in 2016, compared to 3027 people in 2015, the Australian Bureau of Statistics Causes of Death report revealed this morning.

SANE CEO Jack Heath said that while figures are down on the previous year, it’s not a time for celebration with the number of deaths by suicide simply unacceptable.

• The suicide rate decreased from 12.7 to 11.7 per 100,000 Australians
• There was an average of 7.9 deaths by suicide in Australia each day
• There were 2,151 male deaths at rate of 17.9 per 100,000
• There were 715 female deaths at rate of 5.9 per 100,000
• Suicide deaths are down in all states except Tasmania
• Suicide accounted for over one-third of deaths (35.4%) among people 15-24 years of age
• According to international studies, approximately 87% of people who take their lives are those living with mental illness and those living with complex mental illnesses are between 10 and 45 times more likely to take than own lives than the general population

“It’s critical for the mental health and suicide prevention sectors to come together in a coordinated way to build an Australia where everyone living with mental illness has easy access to appropriate services and support.

“We still have so much work to do, including reducing stigma and improving post-discharge processes for people who have attempted suicide.

“We welcome the Federal Government’s commitment to stigma as part of the Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan and additional investment in mental health.

“We also need to be looking at increasing expenditure for those living in rural and regional Australia where suicide rates have been twice as high than in capital cities, yet the expenditure in services per head is half as much.”

A meta review conducted in 2014, titled Risks of all-cause and suicide mortality in mental disorders, showed that those living with complex mental illness are between 10 and 45 times more likely to take than own lives than the general population.

“People living with schizophrenia are 13 times more at risk, those living with bipolar disorder are 17 times, major depressive disorder 20 times, anorexia 31 times and for Australians with borderline personality disorder, the risk of suicide is 45 times higher,” Mr Heath said.

Sam, 30, lives with schizoaffective disorder and attempted to take her life in 2003.

“When I attempted suicide, I was in a really dark and lonely place,” Sam said.

“I believed the decision to take my life was a selfless decision. I thought if I wasn’t around, the world would be a better place for everyone.”

Sam’s advice to someone thinking about taking their life is to reach out and seek help.

“I wish I’d known I would find my place in the world and life would get better,” Sam said.

“Family and friends can also help by learning about suicide warning signs and starting a conversation with their loved ones if they think they may be struggling.

“I’d love to see a day where there was no shame or stigma attached to mental illness and everyone felt confident enough to reach out for help.

“Reaching out and asking for help isn’t easy, but it’s worth it.”

Anyone looking for information, support and guidance from mental health professionals can contact the SANE Help Centre on 1800 187 263 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. from 10am-8pm AEST. For anyone in crisis call:

• Lifeline 13 11 14
• Suicide Call Back Line 1800 659 467
• Mensline 1300 789 978
• KidsHelpline 1800 551 800

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SANE is a national mental health charity working to support four million Australians affected by complex mental illness including schizophrenia, bipolar, borderline personality disorder, eating disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and severe depression and anxiety.

To organise an interview with SANE Head of Programs Sarah Coker, SANE Acting CEO Philippa Costigan or Sam who has survived a suicide attempt please contact:

Ellen Sproule
Senior Media and PR Advisor
Phone: 0407 367 215
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Anyone touched by suicide knows the devastating impact that the loss of one person can have on family, friends and work colleagues - a loss that can linger for decades. But suicide is preventable.

So the release of the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Causes of Death report which shows an increase in the suicide rate is a sombre reminder of the work required to reverse this statistic.

We need to ensure people can access quality mental health services when and how they need them.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) causes of death report released this morning paints a sombre picture with Australians taking their lives at an increasing rate. ABS recorded 3027 deaths from suicide in 2015 – 8 deaths each day and a 10-year high.

SANE CEO Jack Heath said the number of people dying from suicide is deeply concerning whatever way you look at it:

I love my life and have been quite privileged. I have also struggled with different mental illnesses for almost a decade. I was diagnosed with bulimia at 18 and had my first suicide attempt just before my 23^rd birthday. It was just after this that I received my diagnosis of borderline personality disorder (BPD) and was able to seek treatment and support.

It was actually quite a relief for me and my family to be able to put a name to what I was experiencing and to learn my triggers. While the symptoms of borderline personality disorder can be quite diverse, for me it was an irrational and impulsive response to different situations. I was very black and white. One minute I could be totally fine then something would trigger me into a complete suicidal episode and a 24-hour downward spiral. BPD generally also is a co-morbid self harm type illness. In my case it was an eating disorder – a sort of combination of anorexia and bulimia.

I’ve felt the stigma and discomfort around mental illness both in the workplace and in my personal life. There have been times I’ve had to take sick days for mental illness issues and it hasn’t been viewed as a proper sick day. I’ve also been excluded from certain social situations. I had quite a large group of friends and was sometimes not invited to things because I might have an episode. I’ve also isolated myself from events when I’ve known people would be there who have certain views on mental illness. So I’ve felt quite alienated at times.

I don’t blame anyone, as it’s such unfamiliar territory. People can identify with a broken arm, because they can see it. They can’t see mental illness so they can’t sympathise with it. They can’t comprehend the way your mind can change itself into thinking such deep and dark thoughts.

I feel there just isn’t enough accessible education around mental illness. There’s a lot of information about it, but you have to look for it. It hasn’t been as saturated in mass media the way other illnesses with the same statistics are. 

Supporting someone with a mental illness is definitely challenging. Your family and closest friends feel they should be able to support and love you no matter what, but you really test that. My loved ones have been amazing and I am so grateful. My partner has been incredibly patient with me and he’s taken the time to learn my triggers. He’ll hide under the blankets with me until I’ve calmed down. He knows not to say anything. He knows just to be there.

People might say they support mental illness, but most don’t want to talk about it. Being part of a community who have had similar struggles can be a big help. Mental illness is not a convenient thing – it’s not 9 to 5, Monday to Friday. So it’s really important to have somewhere to go any time of day, such as the online SANE forums. Reading about others’ experiences or having someone empathise with your own can give a lot of hope during your darkest moments.

The highest rate of suicide in ten years is a cause of great concern according to SANE CEO, Jack Heath.

“The increase in suicides in 2014 is simply unacceptable. 2864 deaths by suicide is 2864 too many,” Mr Heath said in a statement released today.

“We need to redouble our efforts to prevent suicide at a national, state and local level.

“We need to work closely with people who have attempted suicide to better understand what we can do to assist people in their hour of greatest need.

“We also must reduce the stigma associated with suicide and mental illness so that people are encouraged to seek help early on.

“As a country, we’ve been able to drastically cut the number of deaths from heart disease, aids, cancer and motor vehicle accidents. We can, and must, do the same with suicide.

“We need to set a specific goal for reducing suicide.

“SANE supports the National Suicide Prevention Coalition’s call for a 50% reduction in suicide over a ten-year period.

“Recent reforms announced by the government to tackle suicide at a local level are very welcome as is the commitment to deliver major programs at a national level.

“We now need to put in place a specific goal that we can all rally around.

“SANE is committed to playing its part,” Mr Heath concluded.

Read the ABS Causes of Death 2014 data

For crisis or suicide prevention support, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit www.lifeline.org.au/gethelp

For information, advice and referral on mental illness, contact the SANE Help Centre or phone the Helpline on 1800 18 SANE (7263)

Quick Facts

This factsheet provides resources where you can access information, referrals and crisis support for bereavement, missing persons and suicide.

• Australia-wide information and referrals

  Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement

  The ACGB can refer people to bereavement services in their area. The ACGB also offers quality education and training opportunities for health professionals, students, volunteers and any individual or agency desiring to enhance grief and bereavement knowledge and practice.

  1800 642 066

  SANE Help Centre

  National Freecall and online service providing information, guidance, and referral on mental illness and related issues.

  1800 187 263

  National Missing Persons Coordination Centre

  The National Missing Persons Coordination Centre operates Monday to Friday, 9.00 am to 5.00 pm, providing information, advice and support about missing persons and how to organise the search for someone who is missing.

  1800 000 634

  Standby Response Service

  A community-based suicide postvention program that provides a coordinated response of support and assistance for people who have been bereaved through suicide.

• Suicide

  Suicide Call-Back Service

  National suicide call-back service can provide six 50-minute telephone counselling sessions for people who are suicidal, their carers, or those bereaved by suicide. Operates 24 hours, seven days a week.

  1300 659 467

  Lifeline Australia

  National 24 hour counselling service. Lifeline also operates a suicide helpline and callers can be referred through to this specialist telephone line.

  13 11 14

  Standby Response Service

  A community-based suicide postvention program that provides a coordinated response of support and assistance for people who have been bereaved through suicide.

Quick Facts

When someone takes their own life, family and friends can experience intense grief. This understandably affects how people are able to cope. Friends and colleagues who acknowledge this grief, listen, and offer support can make a big difference in helping people learn to deal with the loss.

When the person who died had a mental illness, family and friends often experience additional grief. It is common for people to feel confused, guilty, or even a sense of relief that the person is no longer suffering. They may also feel angry and disappointed that services have let them down. Because of stigma, they may feel they can’t talk about either the mental illness or suicide, adding to feelings of isolation.

Grief may also be experienced when a friend or family member is missing for a long time, but with the additional stress of not knowing if the person will return. If you know the family or a friend of someone missing long-term, the information in this factsheet could help you to support them.

Related: Supporting someone having thoughts of suicide

• Common responses when someone is bereaved

  ‘I don’t know what to say’

  If you're not sure what to say, ask ‘How are you feeling today?’ Tell the person you’re not sure what to say. Being honest will help to build trust.

  Try to listen 80% of the time and talk 20% of the time.

  Avoid making unhelpful statements such as ‘it’s God’s will’ or ‘things happen for a reason.’

  ‘I don’t want to make it worse for them’

  The person might cry or not cry. One isn't necessarily better than the other.

  By allowing the person to express their grief, you will be helping. Nothing you do can take away the sadness, but it is important to be there for them.
  The way the person expresses grief may be different from the way you would express it. Don’t take anger personally.

  ‘They have lots of family and friends around — they don’t need me’

  People with lots of friends and family still need support from others. It’s important to have grief acknowledged by friends and colleagues so the person doesn’t begin to feel isolated.

  ‘There is nothing I can do — they need help from a professional’

  You can do things that a professional person can’t, like going for walks, cooking a meal, remembering the birthday and anniversaries of the person who died, or just being there.

  ‘I’m not sure what to say about the mental illness’

  Ask the bereaved person how they feel about this. Reassure them you're happy to talk about mental illness if they want.Find out some information so you know something of what the person may have been experiencing. Be compassionate and understanding about difficulties the illness may have caused in their relationship, and encourage them to talk to a bereavement counsellor if they are not coping or do not feel they can talk to anyone else.

• What you can do

  • Be compassionate — show care and concern and allow the person to talk about their loss.
  • Listen and be patient. Grief lasts longer than a few weeks or months.
  • Talk naturally about the person who has died and don't be afraid to speak their name.
  • Let them know that it’s natural to be feeling the way they are.
  • Offer practical support, like cooking a meal, dropping the kids at school or allowing flexible working hours.
  • Suggest activities that you know they enjoy. They might not feel ready to participate, but it’s important to offer.
  • Help make appointments and arrange to get them there.
  • Find out about support services, and help with making calls and searching for information online.

  Related: Has someone close to you with a mental illness gone missing?, Has someone close to you died by suicide?

• Where to find more information and support

  • Talking to others who have been through a similar experience can be a great help. There are support groups for the bereaved in each state. Contact the services listed below for more information.
  • The internet can be a good way to access information and support, particularly if the person feels too upset to see people face-to-face or travel. Use authoritative websites like the ones listed below.
  • If you feel the person isn’t coping, encourage them to talk to a health professional such as a GP, grief counsellor or someone at their community health service. Although grief is natural, sometimes it is too difficult to deal with and may trigger other health problems.
  • Children who are bereaved may need special support to help them cope. For more information contact Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800.

• Looking after yourself

  Be prepared for possible emotional effects you may feel when supporting a bereaved person, including:

  • greater awareness of your own losses in the past
  • worry about your own possible losses in the future
  • anxiety about your own mortality

  It is important to look after yourself and be aware of how supporting a friend or colleague may affect you. Talk to a trusted friend or seek help from a health professional if you find you are not coping.

  Related: Self-care after someone discloses suicidal thoughts, Bereavement, missing persons and suicide

Quick Facts

If so, you are not alone. When someone close to you dies by suicide, it affects how you feel and are able to cope. When that person had a mental illness, you may feel additional grief that is difficult for you and others to fully understand.

• Common responses when someone dies by suicide

  “If only I’d done more to help, maybe they would still be alive.”

  It is not your fault that the person died, but people often feel guilty even though they are not responsible for what happened. Many factors contribute to someone taking their own life. Talking through how you feel can help lessen this feeling of guilt over time.

  “I feel very confused, I’m not sure what’s going on.”

  When someone you care about has a mental illness, it is natural for this to affect your relationship. It is common to have complicated feelings such as resentment at the unfairness of the world, guilt or even a sense of relief that the person is no longer suffering.
  
  Anger is also a common reaction. You may feel angry at the person or angry at mental health services for not doing enough to prevent the suicide. These are normal reactions, and it is important to talk about them, so you can begin to understand and manage them while you are grieving.

  “I didn’t take in their illness, and now they’re gone it’s sinking in.”

  After someone with a mental illness dies by suicide, you may find you are grieving for the person they were before the illness, as well as before they died.
  
  It helps to talk about how you felt when the person was diagnosed and how that affected your life. This can help you understand some of the feelings you have as a result of the suicide.

  “I feel physically affected — is this normal?”

  It is common to feel physical effects. Don’t be alarmed if you have headaches, nausea, begin to walk or speak slowly, or cannot sleep. However, do tell your doctor if these symptoms persist.

  “This has hit me hard — I have a mental illness myself.”

  The suicide of a family member or friend can be particularly hard and you may feel others do not understand. Talk to your doctor or caseworker about the suicide and ask for some extra support — you need it just as much as anyone.

  “Others say I should be finished grieving by now, that I need to move on.”

  There is not always a clear beginning or end to grief. Take the chance to grieve in your own way and time. If not, the feelings you do not express may return and be even more upsetting later.

  “My friends don’t understand what I’m going through.”

  Sometimes people find it difficult to understand mental illness and even harder to understand suicide. Talking to friends can ease feelings of loneliness, so seek out someone supportive to talk to – someone who will be pleased to help.

  “I can’t imagine a time when living without the person won’t hurt this much.”

  Grief affects everyone differently but, with support, you can find ways to cope with the loss. Talking to a counsellor or joining a support group can be an important step to look at ways to express and process your grief.

• Communication and Support

  • Friends or family may feel uncomfortable and not know what to say, but it’s important to talk about how you feel. Tell them not to worry — sometimes a hug or someone to listen can be enough. Give them a copy of the SANE Factsheet: Is someone close to you bereaved by suicide?
  • It’s okay to cry in front of family, friends and even strangers. Tears are a physical way to release emotions.
  • You may want to talk to a professional bereavement counsellor to discuss the emotions you are feeling.
  • It’s okay to say the person’s name out loud. Even though they are no longer living, they are still an important part of your everyday life.
  • It can be helpful to talk to people at the mental health service where the person was being treated. Finding out more about the circumstances around their death could help to bring some understanding.
  • Talking with others who have been through a similar experience can be a great help. There are support groups for the friends and families of people who had a mental illness and died by suicide.
  • Use reliable websites to access information and support, particularly if you feel too upset to see people face-to-face or have difficulty travelling. Use authoritative websites like the ones listed on this factsheet.
  • It is possible the person’s death will attract media attention. If you are contacted by the media, this can be stressful, but remember you are under no obligation to talk to them.
  • If you feel you can’t cope, talk to a health professional such as a GP or someone at your local community health service. Although grief is a normal part of life, sometimes it becomes too difficult to deal with on your own and it could trigger other health problems.
  • Children who are bereaved may need special support to help them cope. For more information, contact Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800.

• For more information

  www.compassionatefriendsvictoria.org.au

  www.grief.org.au

  www.lifeline.org.au

  Standby Response Service

  Other useful SANE Factsheets on this topic available from the website:

  Has someone close to you with a mental illness gone missing?

  Is someone close to you bereaved by suicide?

  The State Coroner’s Office investigates deaths where the circumstances are sudden, traumatic or unexplained. For more information about how Coroners Courts work, download this Bereavement Information Pack from Living is for Everyone.

• Where to call for help

  Lifeline (24-hour crisis telephone counselling)

  13 11 14

  National Missing Persons Coordination Centre(8am - 5pm, Monday to Friday)

  1800 000 634

  Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement

  1800 642 066

  Suicide Callback Service

  1300 659 467

  SANE Help Centre

  1800 18 SANE (7263)