The number of Victorian suicides in 2022 was 756, up nine percent from the previous year.
One very concerning aspect of the report is that the rate of suicides has increased from approximately 58 per month to 65 or more per month from August to December 2022.
The demographic analysis in the report revealed that the suicide rate for those aged 65 or older had increased by 32 percent from 2021 to 2022 and by 53 percent over the last five years. Alarmingly, the number of females over 65 who suicide doubled between 2021 and 2022.
The Victorian state coroner, Judge John Cain, stated: “It is troubling to see an increase in suicides emerge in the last few months of 2022. It is not clear what is driving this increase—especially amongst those 65 and over—but we are monitoring closely to see if this trend continues.”
A Wake-up Call for the Community
I know in recent years, the number of people contacting my office who were lonely or experiencing extreme pressure, whether caused by family, financial, or health issues, was increasing. Many of these issues were the result of the very difficult times that all Victorians experienced during the last few years of COVID-19.For example, Victoria had the world’s longest lockdowns which led to unprecedented isolation, especially for those living alone, who were often older members of the community.
The harsh restrictions experienced by all Victorians, coupled with the mandatory nature of the vaccination program and the unprecedented fear fed by political leaders, encouraged by the media and experienced throughout the community, all had a detrimental effect on many people’s mental health.
I trust that there will be clear learnings for governments from these experiences to ensure improvements are made.
I can well remember taking telephone calls from small business operators who were desperate and on the edge of financial ruin as a result of being shut down during COVID-19.
My role was forced to change from being a local MP to being a “mental health support worker.” Similarly, I took numerous telephone calls from concerned parents whose children refused to go to school following the lockdowns and, in some cases, would not even come out of their bedrooms.
I know that many of my colleagues went through similar experiences. The stress and damage that was inflicted on the community were incalculable.
The coroner also stated that: “Suicide is complex and requires a multifaceted approach to minimise harm.”
He added that substance abuse could sometimes be one of the contributing factors leading to suicide.
As a community, this report should provide all of us with a wake-up call to keep an eye out on our relatives, friends, and neighbours. We need to take an interest in the welfare of the people we encounter each day.
Action we can all take can be as simple as a smile or a brief greeting, which costs us nothing but can mean a lot to the recipient.
According to the Australian Government’s Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, in Victoria, during 2020, the number of ambulance attendances was nearly 1,700 for patients with self-inflicted injuries, nearly 3,400 for suicide attempts, and a staggering 6,000 for patients with suicidal ideation.
These statistics provide extremely sobering reading and arguably show the true extent of this issue in the community.
They should also be a wake-up call to the elected officials in the community at all levels to ensure support services are available to assist people with the difficult issues that inevitably come along in life.
In particular, mental health and other support services must be available when people are most vulnerable.
