Glenn Lazarus (Queensland, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) Thursday, 10 September 2015, is World Suicide Prevention Day, and

(ii) this day is an awareness day to provide worldwide commitment and action to prevent suicide;

(b) recognises and commends the organisers of World Suicide Prevention Day, both in Australia and internationally, who are working to bring communities together to:

(i) reduce the stigma associated with mental health issues,

(ii) increase the awareness of mental health issues, and

(iii) constructively work towards eliminating the incidence of suicide;

(c) acknowledges that:

(i) on average seven Australians commit suicide every day, of which 75 per cent are male, and

(ii) Queensland has the second highest suicide rate in the country; and

(d) calls on the Government to increase its efforts to assist mental health organisations, government agencies and other service providers to increase public awareness of mental health issues and enhance the scope, delivery and availability of support services to the Australian community to reduce suicide rates across the country.

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Glenn Lazarus (Queensland, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Suicide is an issue close to my heart. Many sportspeople retire from sport and find themselves silently suffering from post-sport depression, including me. Sadly, too often they are too proud and too ashamed to share their suffering with anyone. As a result, many retired sportspeople suffer in silence. We are also losing sportspeople in the early stages of and in the prime of their careers due to issues around coping with performance expectations. I hope today that everyone across sport and in the broader community ensures they ask the question 'Are you okay?' Such a simple question can have a profound impact on helping to save lives.

Question agreed to.