Mrs HULL (4:26 PM) —Comprehensive data available since 1986 indicates that males living in our rural areas have a consistently higher rate of suicide than their urban counterparts. More detailed data suggests that there is also significant variation among rural districts, with remote settlements of fewer than 4,000 people being most affected.

I represent a rural and regional electorate. All of the Riverina is affected by drought. Events such as this can have a terrible toll on people of all ages, especially many farming families and many small business families. Some of those families can simply see no way out. It does impact on everybody in the family situation. It is not only the drought that has a toll on farmers and small businesses and those in rural communities but the fact that life in regional Australia has many challenges. Some young people living in rural and regional Australia may also see that there is little future, little future for their whole community and indeed for themselves.

The fact that young men are much more likely to complete suicide than young women may in some way be attributed to the increase in our young ladies relocating from rural and regional areas to metropolitan centres. Perhaps their statistics are not counted or perhaps it is because this makes the social life of a young male in a rural area very difficult to endure. They perhaps can see no future and have no ability to meet and attract a partner. They seem to be at a loss as to how they can go about this.

Nobody should have to feel so much pain and loss that they see the only way out is to end their life. It has been interesting to listen to the contributions in this debate this afternoon. Some have taken the time to put blame on governments and many areas; some have taken the time to appeal for some understanding of depression and suicide. I guess it is very difficult for somebody looking to find an answer through a path of depression. They would find that very difficult to access, as the member for Shortland said.

It should not be acceptable that anyone should see that the only way out is to end their life. It should not be acceptable for a parent, a sibling or a friend to have to deal with the hurt of losing a loved one through suicide. Statistics available from Here for Life, an organisation which works to save many young lives and raise awareness about suicide and ways in which to prevent it, reveal that 10 young Australians will kill themselves this week alone—that is a horrific figure—and as many as 90 per cent of these people will give a warning of their intent to commit suicide.

In 1998, suicide was the second leading cause of death for 15- to 25-year-olds and now youth suicides are beginning to be at their lowest rate for a decade. This provides a glimmer of hope. In 2000, only one male aged between 15 to 24 years committed suicide in the Greater Murray area, which largely covers my electorate. One female also in this age group committed suicide. But in 1997, the number of males aged between 15 to 24 years in the Greater Murray Area Health Service who ended their lives was recorded at eight. The decreasing suicide figures stand in proud testament to the success of the work for Suicide Prevention Australia. The government has committed $48 million over five years to the National Suicide Prevention Strategy. To all the stakeholders involved in suicide prevention, to have some decrease in the number of these horrific events has been an enormous feat.

It is a sad day when a suicide prevention line such as operates in Griffith is a burgeoning business with demand far outstripping supply. It is incumbent upon us to ensure that we are aware of all the possible areas of assistance that are available, like the beyondblue web site. I urge you to enter the world of depression by visiting this site where you will see many stories, such as Hannah's. Hannah indicates that she was diagnosed with anxiety and severe depression. She indicated that her teacher, her family and her schools assisted her to come through the physically and mentally debilitating illness that she faced. She said that all she wanted was not to be sick any more. (Time expired)

The DEPUTY SPEAKER —Order! The time allocated for this debate has expired. The debate is adjourned and the resumption of the debate will be made an order of the day for the next sitting.