Suicide Prevention Annual Forum Friday May 17 2013 9.oo-4.15pm

Suicide Prevention Annual Forum Friday May 17 2013 9.oo-4.15pm

The Baha’i Centre, Hobart

Rainbow Communities Tasmania is pleased to be one of the sponsors and to celebrate the excellent work Tasmanians and the Government are doing to reduce the rate and impact of suicide in this State. The inclusion of LGBTI suicide prevention in the Forum is the culmination of significant work by Rainbow Communities to have recognised the terrible effects of discrimination on LGBTI Communities in the State. Submissions to the State government Suicide Prevention Consultation in over thirty Communities and the Senate Inquiry have resulted in the development of a LGBTI Community Action Plan to eliminate suicide in a very vulnerable population group.

Mr Punch Public Officer for the Rainbow Communities Tasmania Inc. said “the LGBTI Community Action Plan needs to continue to wipe out the awful effects and vestiges of discrimination still existing in Tasmania to-day when same sex attracted young people (SSAP) are three times more likely to suicide than heterosexual youth”. (Howard, J. et al, Same Sex Attracted Youth in Mental Health Promotion and Young People: Concepts and Practice. 2002. Eds Rowling, L, Martin, G., Walker, L. McGraw Hill, Australia)

The fact that rural (SSAY) are six times more likely to suicide than the population as a whole requires strategies to be focussed in remote and rural areas in the state than a Hobart centric approach Mr Punch added. (Quinn, K., Rural Youth and Same Sex Attracted Youth: Issues, Interventions and Implications for Rural Counsellors. Rural and Remote Health. 2003 Vol 3.)

Mr Punch encouraged the government to use and not replicate the existing resources in the regions Coming Out Proud (LGBTI) Community Liaison Committees who are already working with local Government and other regional mainstream resources working to reduce discrimination and provide for the mental health and well-being needs of the LGBTI in these areas.

The Government were encouraged to match the funds raised ($2000) by the COPP Trust for each region to develop LGBTI suicide prevention strategies.” Mr Punch added “The issue of LGBTI suicide and self -harm prevention strategies, especially in areas where discrimination and harassment is endemic, is one of the most sensitive and most important priorities for the LGBTI communities” Mr Punch said. “This connection for Tasmania has critical reference for remote and rural regions where services are least evident and discrimination including hate crime can be more strident”. “The support coming from mainstream welfare, health and well- being services in regional and rural areas is most heartening” Mr Punch added.

Julian Punch AM
Rainbow Communities Tasmania Inc.
WEB www.rainbowtas,org
Julian Punch AM Rainbow Communities Tasmania Inc.