The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide’s final report was handed to the Governor General today. This landmark document contains more than 120 recommendations and is informed by thousands of veterans, representatives across government and community, and the latest data and evidence.
CEO of Suicide Prevention Australia, Nieves Murray said, “There are on average three deaths by suicide by serving or ex-serving Defence members every fortnight across Australia.
“The work of the Royal Commission has been critical in unearthing the depth and scale of the issues regarding suicide risks for our veterans and Defence personnel.
“The work of the Royal Commission has shown that veterans are at increased risk of suicide, and that serving Defence personnel are significantly more likely to die by suicide than employed civilians.
“Today is a milestone for the Defence and Veteran community. However, the true test of this and subsequent governments will be their willingness to act on the recommendations and not let this Royal Commission Report go the way of previous enquiries. The final recommendation to create an independent agency to oversee the implementation of the actions, with the ability to hold the Departments of Defence and Veterans Affairs accountable, is crucial. We urge the Government to move rapidly to implement the recommendations.
“The Royal Commission has demonstrated how critical a whole-of-government approach to suicide prevention is. The challenges facing our veterans not only span the Department of Veteran Affairs, but also Departments in employment and education as they transition to civilian life.
“We need a coordinated, national approach to suicide prevention that leaves no one behind,” said Ms Murray.
ENDS
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.
