Dr Michael Gardner has been appointed as Head of the National Suicide Prevention Office.
The Federal Government’s $12.8 million budget commitment in 2021 to set up a National Suicide Prevention Office, signals a major step towards significant system change that could lead to a meaningful reduction in lives lost to suicide.
As noted by Ms Christine Morgan, National Mental Health Commission CEO, Dr Gardner has exemplary academic, in-community, and government experience, which is informed by his own lived experience of mental illness and suicide.
Suicide Prevention Australia CEO, Nieves Murray said, “We are at a critical juncture for suicide prevention and what we do now will have significant impacts on lives.
“Distress is high in our communities, the Federal election is imminent and major reform is still needed to set in stone a whole of government approach to suicide prevention.
“We look forward to working closely with the head of the National Suicide Prevention Office as we work together towards a world without suicide,” said Ms Murray.
