Estimates - Health - LGBTIQA+ mental health
CHAIR - My question actually refers to suicide, so it's a somewhat - we need mental health warnings for some of these Estimates questions. Minister, the Rainbow Realities report highlights a stark public health emergency. Fifty per cent of LGBTIQA+ adults experience high distress, and an alarming 30 per cent have attempted suicide - a figure that rises to nearly half among trans and gender-diverse Tasmanians.
In light of these devastating figures, how can your government justify any short-term funding cuts to LGBTIQA+ Health initiatives when scaling back these resources directly undermines your 20-Year Preventive Health Strategy and pushes more vulnerable people into our already overcrowded emergency departments?
Mrs ARCHER - Thank you. I would make some, I guess, general comments around suicide prevention, Chair. Most recent Australian Bureau of Statistics data show 81 Tasmanians died by suicide in 2024, which is a decrease to that recorded in 2023. It's important to note they each had people who loved and cared about them, who miss them and grieve their loss, and their deaths had a devastating and widespread impact on their families, friends, children, workmates and communities, and I offer my deepest sympathies, and the impact of that grief can be profound. Preventing suicide is challenging because the reasons behind it are complex and not always linked to mental illness.
Many different life circumstances, as you have alluded to, can affect a person's mental health and wellbeing, and it's something we can all help with, obviously by staying connected, showing kindness and checking in on the people around us. The Tasmanian Suicide Prevention Strategy is well underway and it's supported with $3.75 million in ongoing funding. Our government's committed to working with all Tasmanians to ensure that everyone who experiences suicide distress can access compassionate care and support when they need it.
The 2026 Budget provides additional funding to support the Tasmanian Suicide Prevention Strategy, including: $200,000 over two years to Albie House to deliver a statewide postvention and suicide bereavement program, increasing the availability and access to effective postvention services in Tasmania; $840,000 over four years to Youth Live4Life to provide youth mental health programs using the Live4Life peer-led community-based model in high-need communities; and $210,000 to SPEAK UP! Stay ChatTY to continue suicide prevention and mental health awareness activities delivered through their programs.
The strategy also includes priority population groups such as men, young people, Tasmanian Aboriginal people, LGBTIQA+ people and culturally and linguistically diverse people. It's why we have taken a whole-of-community approach with the strategy. I'm advised that the department's currently evaluating the second implementation plan. The draft third implementation plan has been released and we're finalising the final plan in line with feedback received during the public consultation. I'm personally committed to working with all Tasmanians to ensure that everyone who experiences suicidal distress can access compassionate care and support when they need it, and also probably take the opportunity here to announce that work has commenced on the drafting of a suicide prevention act for Tasmania as well.
Mrs ARCHER - Thank you. I would make some, I guess, general comments around suicide prevention, Chair. Most recent Australian Bureau of Statistics data show 81 Tasmanians died by suicide in 2024, which is a decrease to that recorded in 2023. It's important to note they each had people who loved and cared about them, who miss them and grieve their loss, and their deaths had a devastating and widespread impact on their families, friends, children, workmates and communities, and I offer my deepest sympathies, and the impact of that grief can be profound. Preventing suicide is challenging because the reasons behind it are complex and not always linked to mental illness.
Many different life circumstances, as you have alluded to, can affect a person's mental health and wellbeing, and it's something we can all help with, obviously by staying connected, showing kindness and checking in on the people around us. The Tasmanian Suicide Prevention Strategy is well underway and it's supported with $3.75 million in ongoing funding.
Our government's committed to working with all Tasmanians to ensure that everyone who experiences suicide distress can access compassionate care and support when they need it. The 2026 Budget provides additional funding to support the Tasmanian Suicide Prevention Strategy, including: $200,000 over two years to Albie House to deliver a statewide postvention and suicide bereavement program, increasing the availability and access to effective postvention services in Tasmania; $840,000 over four years to Youth Live4Life to provide youth mental health programs using the Live4Life peer-led community-based model in high-need communities; and $210,000 to SPEAK UP! Stay ChatTY to continue suicide prevention and mental health awareness activities delivered through their programs.
The strategy also includes priority population groups such as men, young people, Tasmanian Aboriginal people, LGBTIQA+ people and culturally and linguistically diverse people. It's why we have taken a whole-of-community approach with the strategy. I'm advised that the department's currently evaluating the second implementation plan. The draft third implementation plan has been released and we're finalising the final plan in line with feedback received during the public consultation. I'm personally committed to working with all Tasmanians to ensure that everyone who experiences suicidal distress can access compassionate care and support when they need it, and also probably take the opportunity here to announce that work has commenced on the drafting of a suicide prevention act for Tasmania as well.