The Tasmania State Budget has been handed down and while there was no direct mention of additional funding for suicide prevention, there were announcements relating to mental health and some of the social determinants impacting suicides.
Suicide Prevention Australia CEO, Nieves Murray said, “We know that suicide is incredibly complex and it’s more than a mental health issue. Social determinants of wellbeing, such as housing stress, economic hardship and homelessness are major factors to address in preventing suicide. It’s encouraging to see this as a focus in the Tasmania State Budget.”
Key highlights
Mental Health:
- $108 million in additional funding to mental health services across the State, including:
- $8.5 million for a Mental Health Hospital in the Home pilot in the North-West of the State (to enable people who may have otherwise been hospitalised to receive intensive, short-term support in their own home).
- $50 million allocated to fully fund the Government’s response to Phases One and Two of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Review Report.
- $8.8 million to continue the broader rollout of the Tasmanian Mental Health Reform Program across the State.
- $5.1 million over two years to pilot an Emergency Mental Health Co-Response Team, which will see mental health clinicians travel with police and ambulance officers to attend mental health-specific Triple Zero calls.
- $12 million for the Launceston General Hospital Mental Health Precinct.
- $20 million for the North West Regional Hospital Mental Health Precinct.
- Housing and Accommodation Support Initiative (HASI) will now become permanent, with $2.1 million in additional funding over four years.
Social determinants:
- Housing: $615 million into social and affordable housing and homelessness initiatives, including building 3,500 new homes by 2027 and developing a Tasmanian Housing Strategy.
- Unemployment: $20.5 million over two years for the Working Tasmania Program to support training interventions, address barriers to employment, support employers to employ, and specifically assist young people and recent school leavers.
- Alcohol and other drugs: $10 million into treatment services, including 65 residential rehabilitation beds; the peak body the Alcohol Tobacco and other Drugs Council for a Reform Agenda project officer; and other community-based organisations.
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.
Media contacts
Clare Kinsella 0427 689 689
clarek@suicidepreventionaust.org
Amelia Banks 0410 591 134
ameliab@suicidepreventionaust.org