A survey conducted by Lifeline Australia shows an alarming number of Australians wrongly believe suicide was not preventable, highlighting the need for better education programs. A quarter of adults surveyed thought “suicide was mostly not preventable”. According to Lifeline’s Chief Executive, Dawn O’Neil, a range of measures such as reducing access to firearms, barbiturates and analgesics, detoxifying domestic gas and erecting barriers at particular jumping sites, has helped reduce suicide by specific means.
The suicide of a Newcastle University medical graduate has prompted a New South Wales hospital to review storage procedures for a local anaesthetic drug. Dr William Huynh died a year ago, two weeks before finishing his internship at Wagga Wagga Hospital in the state’s south. The state coroner ruled out an inquest, but a report says Dr Huynh used the drug Lignocaine to assist his suicide by hanging. But the coroner does not say where the 26-year-old intern obtained the drug, which is only available on doctors’ prescription.
Health Minister Carmel Tebbutt previously told Parliament, the Greater Southern Area Health Service is reviewing how schedule four drugs are stored, supplied and dispensed. The review will consider compliance with NSW Health policy on medication handling in public hospitals.
In a joint submission to a Senate inquiry into suicide, Lifeline argues that suicide prevention is not taken seriously enough. Lifeline, the 24 hour telephone counselling service, experienced its busiest days in years on Christmas Day last year. Between midnight on Christmas Day and midnight on January 2, the service received 9,948 calls, a 10 per cent increase on last year.
Ms O’Neil stated that suicide was the leading cause of death of men and women aged under 44. More people died from suicide than car accidents. The latest Bureau of Statistics figures show 1800 people killed themselves in 2007, although Lifeline says the figure is believed to be about 2500.
The Senate’s Community Affairs References Committee is inquiring into suicide, including personal and financial costs, the accuracy of reporting, and the effectiveness of the National Suicide Prevention Strategy. The Lifeline submission said Australia just spent just 91 cents per head on prevention although suicide costs the nation at least $17.5 billion a year, about as much as road trauma. If you require assistance or counselling, please contact Lifeline on 131 114.