Posted on 30 June 2020

Warning: The following article contains content about suicide which some people might find triggering and distressing.

VACCHO is deeply saddened to learn of the tragic loss in our communities to date. Our hearts go out to all Victorian people, families and communities affected.

We are calling for urgent talks with government and an independent inquiry into the growing number of Aboriginal suicides, with today’s release of the Coroners Court of Victoria Report. The report shows the tragic and unacceptable rise in the number of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples who have died by suicide in Victoria last year - the highest on record over the past decade.

“We can’t allow this silent tragedy to continue anymore. We know our families and communities are hurting. This is a failure of the system once again. The evidence is beyond dispute. It’s unacceptable and time to act,” said Jill Gallagher, VACCHO CEO.

This watershed Report shows that Aboriginal suicide is trending about two to three times as high as the general population in Victoria. This is broadly consistent with national trends, with Aboriginal people across all age groups are about twice as likely to take their own lives and four times as likely amongst youth.

“Any life lost to suicide is a human tragedy and our hearts go out to all Victorian families and communities affected. There is a shocking and disproportionate level of suicide between Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples compared to the broader Australian population. We need urgent answers. Solutions focused on family healing, prevention and postvention supports,” said Ms Gallagher.

Other key Victorian Coroner’s Report findings include:

• Overwhelmingly, Aboriginal suicides were strongly linked to mental health issues (about 80% of deaths included both diagnosed and suspected mental illness) at a similar level to the overall Victorian population. 
• Suicide at a younger age is a particular issue for Aboriginal women, with two thirds of all suicides concentrated in the 18-34 age groups. This contrasts with the broader population where women are at most risk in their late 30s and 40’s. Aboriginal girls (less than 18 years of age) are also more likely to commit suicide than either boys or mainstream boys and girls.
• These high levels of suicide are also strongly correlated with substance abuse as well as recent contact with the justice system, at about double the rate for other Victorians. They are also strongly correlated with interpersonal conflict and stress, including abuse, family violence, legal issues and bullying – with each also about double the rate of other Victorians. This is consistent with findings in other jurisdictions. 
• Aboriginal people are more likely to be impacted by stressors (apart from work and financial) than the mainstream population and would also be more likely to experience multiple stressors simultaneously.
• Aboriginal people in regional areas are more likely to commit suicide (60% of suicides of Aboriginal people happen in regional areas, despite 50% of the Aboriginal population living in regional areas).

“Improving clinical services and responses remains critical, but our responses must go much deeper. We know that Aboriginal youth suicide especially is not solely a mental health issue – it is an outcome of complex interrelated factors that are rooted in intergenerational trauma,” she said.

Ms Gallagher acknowledged the leadership work being done by the Victorian State Government in collaboration with VACCHO in the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System with the final report due in Parliament early next year. But also acknowledged that families and communities cannot wait any longer.

A full copy of the Report is available here.

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