Llew O'Brien (Wide Bay, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A mother told me last week of the combination of heartbreak and loss that swallows you when a child dies by suicide. Tragedies like this often can be twofold because anguish swirls with grief, with the expectation that they could have somehow done something to stop a loved one from hurting themselves. But this conversation can be too big for family and friends alone. Often when people die by suicide, the act that takes their life is preceded by one or more attempts. Help is needed most in the days and weeks following an attempt.

It was a promising experience last week to attend the Maryborough launch of Beyond Blue's suicide aftercare initiative, The Way Back Support Service, which offers critical support for people after they leave hospital. It plugs an important gap to help people navigate their way back to the light at the end of the tunnel. The Morrison government has commissioned the $44 million The Way Back program to give practical support to people who have tried to take their own lives. Not only does this program help people recover but it helps them deal with the issues that led to the suicide attempt and helps them connect to their communities, who would feel their loss forever.