LEADING workers in suicide prevention have been named in the Premier’s Council on Suicide Prevention, set up to tackle SA’s suicide rate.
Premier Steven Marshall said the council, which is led by the MLC John Dawkins, is tasked with the critical role of reducing the state’s suicide rate which is currently above the national average.
“Suicide claims too many lives in SA, devastating families and friends,” Mr Marshall said.
“The Premier’s Council on Suicide Prevention will build on the vital work of the Suicide Prevention Networks, which have been set up in council areas across the state.
“We know that the Suicide Prevention Networks are having an impact in country SA where the suicide rate is lower than rural and regional areas interstate.
“The council will devote their efforts to delivering improvements in policy and services that we hope will reduce the impact of suicide in our metropolitan areas and further reduce it in our rural communities.”
Mr Dawkins was appointed as the Premier’s Advocate for Suicide Prevention earlier this year and said he welcomed the 13 South Australians, from varying vocational, cultural and social backgrounds, who have agreed to serve on the council.
“I’m looking forward to working with the council and building on the good work already being done by the Suicide Prevention Networks and staff within the Office of the Chief Psychiatrist at SA Health,” Mr Dawkins said.
“Suicide shatters the lives of loved ones and local communities and we need to do more to help people at risk.
“These council members are passionate advocates for suicide prevention and between them, they have devoted decades to helping people touched by suicide.
“I will work with the council to lower the number of lives lost to suicide which might involve a number of strategies, including providing additional services and attention to people at risk.”
The Premier’s Council on Suicide Prevention will be located at the SA Health CitiCentre building.
Members of the council include founder and chairperson of Minimisation of Suicide Harm Australia Jill Chapman; Silent Ripple founder and coordinator Janet Kuys, Murray Bridge; Treasuring Life South East Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Network founder Peter May, Limestone Coast; Country SA South for StandBy Support after Suicide coordinator Tracey Wanganeen, Mount Gambier; Suicide Prevention and Low Intensity Strategies for Country SA Primary Health Network assistant manager Chez Curnow, Port Augusta; former MLC and disability advocate Kelly Vincent; veteran Chad McLaren, Henley; Uniting Communities chief executive officer Simon Schrapel, Adelaide; Anglicare SA CEO Rev Peter Sandeman, Adelaide; University of SA’s Sansom Institute for Health Research fellow and University of Adelaide School of Psychology’s visiting research fellow Kate Fennell; University of South Australia’s Department of Rural Health mental health lecturer Lee Martinez, Whyalla; former SA chief psychiatrist Peter Tyllis, Adelaide; and GP Seema Jain, Elizabeth Vale.
