Priority groups overlooked for suicide prevention funding
Australian suicide prevention funding may be missing key priority population groups, a Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research study has found.
The review of national and state suicide prevention funding showed only two per cent of suicide prevention funding is specifically allocated to adolescents, young adults and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, despite higher suicide rates among these groups.
Lead researcher Di Hu said increased funding for online support, telephone and face-to-face services is critical to help reduce suicide rates for these groups.
“For example, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples require a tailored service response such as culturally appropriate care with a holistic approach to social and emotional well-being,” she said.
The study found approximately A$840 million is dedicated to suicide prevention services between 2021-27 based on Commonwealth and state and territory budget documents.
Most of the funding is dedicated to initiatives aimed at the general public and aftercare services for people who have made an attempt on their life.
“Aftercare services are more likely to reduce suicide attempts compared to population-level strategies such as media reporting guidelines and public awareness campaigns.
“However, prevention strategies such as educating healthcare professionals on how to manage depression and restricting access to lethal means of suicide show the greatest potential for scale-up and warrant review and prioritisation.”
The study also revealed significant disparities in funding allocation towards specific initiatives and services across the states and territories.
These variations may be due in part to certain suicide prevention initiatives being grouped under broader mental health funding categories.
“The review highlights the need for better transparency and consistency in funding reporting, enabling more effective analysis of resource distribution and evaluation of service efficacy,” Ms Hu said.
Established in 1987, QCMHR is funded by Queensland Health to work state-wide and contribute to the local, national, and global research efforts to improve mental health.
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