And the national prevention office releases its outcomes map that it says will, for the first time, provide evidence to help prevent future suicidal distress.
The NSW Suicide Prevention Council and the NSW Aboriginal Suicide Prevention Council are up and running, meaning the state’s mental health commission can get on with the next step.
The councils are part of the requirement under the NSW Suicide Prevention Act 2025. Their job is to provide advice to the Mental Health Commission of New South Wales on the preparation, implementation and review of the NSW Suicide Prevention Plan and the Aboriginal Suicide Prevention Plan as well as broader policy and strategic advice about improvements to suicide prevention.
“The Act recognises that all parts of government have a role to play in reducing and preventing suicide and suicidal distress, and I welcome the opportunity to work with government agencies to ensure practical action and collective impact,” said NSW mental health commissioner Jennifer Black.
The two councils, which held their inaugural meetings in May, have 25 members between them. These are people who have firsthand experience of suicidal distress, have lost someone to suicide, or are carers supporting people experiencing suicidal distress, as well as recognised experts, government representatives, prominent sportspeople, and community members from groups disproportionately impacted by suicide. The Aboriginal Suicide Prevention Council includes respected elders.
“For too long, suicide was seen as the responsibility of the health system alone, overlooking the many complex and interconnected factors that contribute to suicide and suicidal distress,” said NSW minister for mental health Rose Jackson.
“This legislation, and these councils, are about doing things differently — recognising that preventing suicide requires action across all parts of government and the community.
“People interact with NSW Government services every day, and that’s why this government passed world-leading suicide prevention laws last year to make every arm of government more accountable in saving lives.”
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- The NSW mental health system is broken: report
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Members of the Aboriginal Suicide Prevention Council are Matthew Trindall, Dan Morrison, Chloe Richards, Daniel Howell, Eliza Kitchener, Greg Inglis, Uncle Joe Miller, Lachlan Madden, Paul Morris, Sheree James, Tania Brown, Trish Oxford, and Melinda Norton.
“I am a proud Gomeroi man living in New South Wales with lineage from Bigambul through to the Thungutti and Gandangarra. I am honoured to chair the Aboriginal Suicide Prevention Council and Co-Chair of the Suicide Prevention Council,” said Mr Trindall.
“As Aboriginal people, most of us have been impacted by suicide in some way. We have an opportunity with these councils to guide and shape the way suicide prevention is formed for mob.
“I am looking forward to being a part of this journey, to create better outcomes for our people and reduce Aboriginal deaths by suicide.”
The NSW Suicide Prevention Council committee members are Dr Jaelea Skehan, Arabella Gibson, Richard Hendrie, Joseph Kwon, Craig Hughes-Cashmore, Nieves Murray, Sophie Potter, Dr Annie Fardell Hartley, Aurora Green, Sally Webb, and Joseph La Posta.
“We need to stay focused on what targeted and coordinated action across government can achieve, while also remembering that real change must be felt by people in the places where they live, learn, work and connect,” said Dr Skehan, the council’s co-chair.
“I’m committed to ensuring that our advice is practical, evidence-informed and grounded in the needs and strengths of people and communities across NSW.”
Related
On a federal level, yesterday saw the release of the National Suicide Prevention Outcomes Map, a joint endeavour by the National Suicide Prevention Office (NSPO), the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), and University of New England (AU). It was a key recommendation of the National Suicide Prevention Strategy 2025–2035, released by the federal government and endorsed by all states and territories.
“The Outcomes Map represents a significant step forward in understanding the experiences of people whose lives have been impacted by suicide,” the chair of the NSPO’s advisory board, Professor Nicholas Procter, said at yesterday’s launch.
“For the first time, it will provide the evidence needed to better support individuals and help prevent future suicidal distress and suicidal crises before they occur.
“At its core, this work is about mapping outcomes of person-centred approaches in suicide prevention. The Outcomes Map recognises the importance of understanding an individual’s circumstances and story of suicide, responding with comfort, support and safety in ways that are age-appropriate, gender-appropriate, culturally safe and developmentally appropriate,” said Professor Procter.
“These are responses that fit the person, their context, and the drivers contributing to their suicidal distress. This places a spotlight on Person-centred outcomes to better understand what support is needed and the nuances required and given to provide care that is both compassionate and effective.”