Senate debates

Monday, 12 September 2016

Motions

Mental Health

3:36 pm

Photo of Rachel SiewertRachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) recognises that:

  (i) 8 September was 'R U OK Day', dedicated to reminding people to ask family, friends and colleagues in a meaningful way R U OK?, and

  (ii) 10 September was World Suicide Prevention Day, a day to draw public attention to suicide prevention;

(b) acknowledges that:

  (i) suicide statistics show that it is at the highest level in 10 years, and there were more than 2,000 deaths from intentional self-harm in 2014,

  (ii) Mental Health Australia has called for a commitment to long term targets on mental health, and

  (iii) Suicide Prevention Australia has called for a shared goal of a 50 per cent reduction in suicides in 10 years; and

(c) calls on the Government to adopt a national suicide prevention target.

Question agreed to.