Suicide Prevention Australia condemns the Albanese Government for failing to provide any targeted funding for the implementation of the recently released National Suicide Prevention Strategy in the Federal Budget. Whilst suicidal distress levels have remained stubbornly high, funding to suicide prevention and mental health has been significantly cut over the coming years.
This Budget does not provide the necessary funding to implement the Strategy in a way that will save lives. The suicide prevention sector has been clear: a Strategy without proper investment is just words on a page.
Suicide Prevention Australia CEO, Nieves Murray, said the lack of meaningful funding raises serious concerns about the government’s commitment to reducing suicide.
“While there are several isolated measures that address some of the causes of distress, there is no investment in the government’s recently released Strategy to tie it all together.
“This Budget sidesteps the systemic reform required to protect our community from suicide in a coordinated way. Just last month, the government released the National Suicide Prevention Strategy with great fanfare, but tonight’s Budget renders it a hollow promise.
“The missed opportunity here is that we have a comprehensive Strategy ready to go which is widely supported by suicide prevention services and people with lived experience. It just needs action. Instead, we have a Strategy with no clear funding pathway, and services left scrambling to fill the gaps.
“It is incomprehensible that, at a time when distress levels are at an all-time high, the government has failed to deliver meaningful funding for suicide prevention. This Budget flies in the face of the commitments made in the National Strategy and leaves Australians at risk,” said Ms Murray.
The National Suicide Prevention Strategy outlines a vision for a whole-of-government, whole-of-community approach to suicide prevention. However, without dedicated funding, key priorities —including lived experience-led initiatives, research funding, and local community-based suicide prevention programs — remain in jeopardy.
“Every day, nine lives are lost to suicide in Australia. Our latest Community Tracker revealed that nearly one in five (19%) young Australians (18-34) have experienced suicidal distress in the last 12 months, including having serious thoughts of suicide, making a suicide plan, or attempting to take their life.
“The government told us they were serious about suicide prevention when they launched the National Strategy. But when it came time to put their money where their mouth is, they fell silent.
“We simply cannot afford to delay action. We are calling on the government to urgently commit to funding the implementation of the National Suicide Prevention Strategy,” said Ms Murray.
To get help 24/7, phone Lifeline on 13 11 14 or the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467. If you or someone you know are in immediate danger, phone 000 for emergency services.
Help to report about suicide safely is available online: Go to https://mindframe.org.au/
Media enquiries:
Amelia Hew 0410 591 134 or ameliah@suicidepreventionaust.org
About Suicide Prevention Australia
Suicide Prevention Australia is the national peak body and we’ve been providing support for Australia’s suicide prevention sector for more than 30 years. We support and advocate for our members to drive continual improvement in suicide prevention policy, programs and services. Our reach is broad, including member organisations, governments, businesses, researchers, practitioners and those with lived experience. We are focused on an integrated approach to suicide prevention encompassing mental health, social, economic and community factors. We believe that through collaborative effort and shared purpose, we can achieve our vision of a world without suicide.
