Strategy slowed by govt process

In July last year, Mental Health Minister Jack Snelling confirmed budget assistance for a second full-time employee to help roll-out programs as part of the government's SA Suicide Prevention Strategy

Only one person is employed for the whole state.

Almost 10 months since that confirmation during an Estimates Committee process, the position remains unfilled. In February this year, Liberal Spokesman for Suicide Prevention MLC John Dawkins queried Mr Snelling as to when the position would be filled.

"The rate of suicide in country SA is significantly higher than the road toll, but gains far less attention by the government," Mr Dawkins said.

"More people are talking about it these days than ever before, but it still isn't enough. And more government assistance is required to help the people affected.

"There has been a really good increase in community awareness and the actual prevention of suicides, and that has been assisted by the strategy and the roll-out of these networks, but for a long period of time, the one officer doing that work needs assistance.

"The rollout would be quicker and a lot more effective if there was at least another person on the ground for assistance."

SA Health statement said a large amount of scoping and planning work was required before an additional suicide prevention officer could be recruited, "to determine the objectives for the role and how they would be achieved".

"This included planning for the expansion of the suicide prevention networks across the state and a new community grants scheme, as well as looking at the next phase of the SA Suicide Prevention Strategy, beyond 2016," it said.

"This planning has now been completed and the new suicide prevention officer is expected to start work in July."

Mr Dawkins said the 12-month lag was "unfortunate".

"That assistance was promised last July and we're now told it will be a year before that officer starts," he said.

"I will be holding them to that date."

Rural Doctors Association of SA president Scott Lewis said mental health and suicides were a growing concern in rural areas.

"We have been lucky that we have had a number of good years on the land, but in harder times the need does increase, and we need to have those services readily available," he said.

"Seeing a local GP is all well and good, but you need a lot of other psychological support outside of that and that can be very difficult to access.

"Suicide prevention strategy in this state needs a more coordinated approach that includes early intervention and follow-up of those at risk.

"The strategy needs to look at what leads people to suicide, such as social factors around drought, and around drugs and alcohol - not just focusing on those that have been diagnosed with depression."