SOCIAL ISSUES—WORLD SUICIDE PREVENTION DAY

Senator Wright, also on behalf of Senators Moore and Humphries, amended general business notice of motion no. 382 by leave and, pursuant to notice of motion not objected to as a formal motion, moved—That the Senate—

 (a) notes that:

  (i) 10 September 2011 was World Suicide Prevention Day,

  (ii) 15 September 2011 is R U OK? Day, a national day of action which aims to prevent suicide by encouraging Australians to connect with friends and loved ones to address issues that may lead to suicide,

  (iii) suicide is preventable,

  (iv) the whole of government and the whole of the community have a responsibility to prevent suicide, and

  (v) suicide prevention is everybody's business;

 (b) recognises that:

  (i) suicide occurs throughout all sections of Australian society,

  (ii) in 2009, 2 132 Australians died of suicide, over three-quarters (76.6 per cent) of whom were men,

  (iii) middle and old age are times of greatest risk, while suicide remains the single biggest killer of people under 35,

  (iv) suicide attempts are estimated to number 65 000 a year, with devastating physical, emotional and social outcomes, and

  (v) suicide has immeasurable human, social and financial costs; and

 (c) calls on the Federal Government to encourage speaking out about suicide and to continue making suicide prevention a priority.

Question put and passed.