Suicide: It's no secret - News

Research Articles

The rate of female suicide is on the rise and we need to better understand why

The Age - Pete Shmigel

Suicide has largely been considered a predominantly male issue, with two-thirds of Australia's suicide deaths being men. However, recent studies show that the rate of female suicide and self-harm is on the rise. Since 2000, the rate of women reporting to hospital for self-harm has increased by 50 per cent. There is an urgent need for increased awareness and understanding of this issue.

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The fallen hero: masculinity, shame and farmer suicide in Australia - Abstract

Journal of Gender, Place and Culture - Lia Bryant & Bridget Garnham

The historical and cultural value of masculinity in Australian farming culture is central to understanding how suicide emerges as a possibility for farmers. Research suggests that the notion of the ‘fallen hero’ captures how masculine farming culture has shifted from one instilled with pride, to one of shame. These complex relationships are key to understanding high suicide rates in male farmers.

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Associations between climate variability, unemployment and suicide in Australia: a multicity study                             

University of Western Sydney, Queensland University of Technology and the School of Public Health Xi’an Jiaotong University, China - Xin Qi, Wenbiao Hu, Andrew Page and Shilu Tong

Recent research has highlighted a positive association with temperature difference (the difference in mean temperature between current month and previous one month) and suicide in Australian capital cities. Findings suggest that in periods of significant temperature disparity rates of suicide were amplified. These results should be considered to inform the strategic development of suicide prevention programs.

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News

24/07/19 'Suicide greatest public health challenge of our time': Former PM Julia Gillard SBS News

27/07/17  Who cares for the mental health of artists? InDaily

'A Career in the Arts is a Leading Cause of Mental Illness.' Workers in the arts sector experience mental illness at a higher rate than many other professions. High levels of scrutiny, pressure and inconsistent employment all contribute to this risk. But more than this, there is a reluctance to talk about mental illness. The following is an opinion piece which draws on experts from Australian Universities on the arts sector and what we can do to help break the stigma of mental health. See also: //www.entertainmentassist.org.au/about/

20/07/17  Mental Health in the Hospitality Industry Good Food magazine

'The industry that plates up pleasure for patrons at every service is a melting pot of mental and emotional risk factors for staff.' The article below is an example of why we need to break the stigma of Mental Health for everyone, including those who work in unforgiving, high pressure environments such as professional kitchens.

06/04/2017  One in three students consider self-harm ABC News

University students often feel overwhelmed with academic pressures, financial strain and exhaustion. 1 in 3 higher education students think about self harm or suicide. Read the report below from ABC news:

25/6/2015 Men more likely to talk about suicidal thoughts with loved ones than doctor, ABC News 

A national study has found men are more likely to discuss suicidal thinking with trusted acquaintances like family, friends or partners than health clinicians. The research by not-for-profit the Black Dog Institute aims to identify ways to prevent male suicides, which account for about 75 per cent of the total Australian figure.

29/6/2015 Talking about suicide, ABC Radio “Health report’ broadcast

For the last twenty years, health professionals and laypeople alike have been told not to talk about suicide, at the risk of encouraging it. But that's a myth. In today's Health Report, Wendy Zukerman speaks with health professionals and people living with depression, finding out that in fact, we should be talking about suicide a lot more than we currently do.

22/7/2015 Indigenous suicide rates at crisis levels ABC News

The Federal Government is being pressed to form a crisis response to the high rates of death by suicide in Aboriginal communities. 

31/7/2015 Two thirds of indigenous people dying before age 65 ABC News

Nearly two thirds of Indigenous people die before the age of 65, compared with only 19 per cent of other Australians.  There is a need for awareness, concern & action to Close The Gap.

07/8/2015 Men, Unemployment and Suicide Australian Institute of Male Health and Studies/University of Western Sydney

Recent international research provides a serious challenge to the general approach to suicide research and prevention, particularly as it applies to men. Current policy and practice are not only unhelpful to many men, but may actually compound the difficulties that men face. Unemployment is a recognised factor in a large percentage of all suicides.

09/10/15  Research shows new fathers are under pressure and at risk of experiencing distress Beyond Blue

Beyondblue has released research revealing four out of five new dads feel the need to be “the rock” for their families after the birth of their child, and that half of new fathers believe this expectation causes them to experience stress and anxiety. In response to this research Beyondblue will release several new initiatives in the next year to provide new dads with the knowledge, tools and support to increase resilience during the transition into fatherhood. These will also be funded with donations from the Movember Foundation.

26/11/15 Mental health reforms will make it easier for Australian’s to get help Beyond Blue 

The Government has developed a new approach to suicide prevention, bringing support closer to home for all Australian’s. The new scheme also commits additional funds to provide team-based support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are at greater risk of psychological distress and suicide than the broader community.

3/12/2015 $15 million donation may 'change the way suicide prevention is handled in Australia ABC News

A large, private donation of $14.7 million will be used to fund Australia's first evidence-based suicide prevention programs. Using research from Australia and overseas, the Black Dog Institute has developed a new approach, using nine key strategies in the community to prevent suicide. Experts say the key to success is the simultaneous implementation and tailoring of the program to the risk level and demographics of specifi communities. it is predicted that these strategies may decrease suicide rates by up to 20%.

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