Alex Antic (SA, Liberal Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health, Senator Cash. Today is R U OK? Day. Every year, R U OK? Day starts an important conversation about suicide prevention across Australia. Can the minister please advise the Senate what steps the Morrison government is taking to support worthy causes like R U OK? Day and deliver support for Australians in managing their mental health?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business) | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Antic for what yet again this week is a very important question. R U OK? does fantastic work, I think we would all agree, providing national focus on leadership for suicide prevention in Australia. This is such an important day today—I certainly had the discussion with my staff this morning—because it draws national attention to how important it is to reach out to family, friends and colleagues and ask them, 'Are you okay?' The government has provided funding for R U OK? through the Department of Health's National Suicide Prevention Leadership and Support Program.

Sadly, more than half of all Australian adults know someone who died by suicide. As we know, suicide causes hurt, loss and pain for those who are left behind. The carnage it wrecks does not discriminate and it extends, as we know, far beyond individuals to the communities and families left behind. I think it would be the position of all of us here in this chamber that no person should have to suffer through the isolation and despair that mental illness is capable of causing while feeling that there is no solution, without feeling there could be and there are brighter days to follow, without feeling that not only is it possible that things will improve but you will be supported through the process of recovery.

We know that by simply reaching out and asking, 'Are you okay?' we can make a massive difference in peoples' lives. The Morrison government are committed to improving the mental health of all Australians. We have adopted a towards-zero target in suicide prevention and, whilst we acknowledge this is a bold goal when we talk of setting objectives in this space, there is, as I think we would all agree, no other acceptable option.

Scott Ryan (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Antic, a supplementary question?

Alex Antic (SA, Liberal Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, are there any further investments the government is making to address this important issue?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business) | Link to this | Hansard source

The answer is, yes, there are. We as a government currently invest over $5 billion in mental health services across Australia each year. We have announced a $503 million youth mental health and suicide prevention plan. This is something that the Prime Minister is incredibly passionate about. It is the largest suicide prevention plan in Australia's history. It's all about ensuring that families, communities and those facing challenges get the support that they need. We're undertaking a major expansion of the headspace network and a significant boost to Indigenous suicide prevention and early childhood and parenting support. We will also trial eight adult mental health centres focusing on specialised support for adults requiring treatment, particularly after hours. We are focused on eating disorders, which many people don't know are actually the deadliest of psychiatric conditions. (Time expired)

Scott Ryan (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Antic, a final supplementary question?

Alex Antic (SA, Liberal Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, what steps can we as individuals take to help tackle the stigma surrounding mental health?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business) | Link to this | Hansard source

Whilst enormous progress has been made on ending the stigma, people's self-consciousness about their own mental health concerns still remain high. We know that actually the main barrier for people who want to seek help is that they just can't confront that self-consciousness. Through R U OK? Day and other awareness-raising initiatives, we hope that more Australians will understand the warning signs for suicide, they'll know how to start a positive conversation with someone who is struggling and they'll also have the power to assist them to actually go out and access help. Making a real change in the prevalence of mental ill health and rates of suicide in this country is going to require us all to make a collective effort. It is up to each and every one of us. It is our responsiveness that gives us, together, an opportunity to intervene.