Suicide Is a Serious Issue for Concern,

Suicide is a serious issue for concern, as it is a major cause of unnatural death throughout the world. A death may be classified as a suicide if an individual has died as a direct result of a deliberate act with the intention of causing one's death (Australian Government Department of Health and Aging, 2007). Approximately two-thousand Australians commit suicide every year, which has a devastating effect on the families, friends, work places and communities around them (Australian Government Department of Health and Aging, 2007). Research demonstrates that suicide rates in Australia have declined steadily since the late 1990s among males, while the suicide rates among females have remained constant (Australian Government Department of Health and Aging, 2007). However, the rates for males are still high, accounting for approximately 78% of total suicide deaths, and suicide accounted for about 20% of all deaths among young men in the age category of 20 to 34 years-old in 2006 (Australian Government Department of Health and Aging, 2007).

In regards to the region of South Australia in particular, the suicide rate in 2006 was 10/100,000 deaths, ranking it as the region with the third highest death rate in Australia (Australian Government Department of Health and Aging, 2007). There are certain groups of people in the Australian community who have been identified as being at higher risk of suicide. These groups include men, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people in rural or remote communities, people being treated for mental illness in a psychiatric facility or those recently discharged, people who previously have attempted suicide, people bereaved by suicide, and people from backgrounds that are culturally and linguistically diverse (Australian Government Department of Health and Aging, 2007). Throughout the world, higher suicide rates among men and women are related increased female labour force participation, unemployment, and the proportion of people over the age of 65 years, and reductions in suicide rates of males and females are associated with increases in health spending per capita (Milner et al., (2010). Low-income countries exhibit much higher suicide rates than Australia, which may be a result of insufficient resources available for prevention programs (Milner & Del Leo, 2010).

There are several factors involved in the efficacy of suicide prevention initiatives. It is suggested in a study by Saini et al. (2010) that primary care provided by physicians may be a key setting for effective suicide prevention. These researchers sought to describe services available in general practice for the management of patients who may be suicidal and they examined physicians' views regarding these practices (Saini et al., 2010). Physicians within this study reported a lack of access to mental health services in primary and secondary care for individuals that may be suicidal, as well as a lack of options for treatment for individuals who have been diagnosed with anxiety or depression (Saini et al., 2010). Overall, physicians expressed concerns regarding the provision of training and services in the realm of mental health problems associated with suicide risk, and specifically for the prevention of suicidal ideation and self-harm (Saini et al., 2010).

Suicide prevention initiatives should have a focus on early recognition and treatment of mental illnesses (Kostenuik & Ratnapalan, 2010). Psychiatric illness is one of the most important risk factors for suicide, and suicide is most often precluded by the presence of mood disorders, addiction, or a previous suicide attempt (Kostenuik & Ratnapalan, 2010), Especially among adolescents, some of the most common warning signs of suicide are sudden change of behavior, apathy, withdrawal, change in eating patterns, an unusual preoccupation with death and dying, giving away of valued personal possessions, depressive symptoms, moodiness, and hopelessness (Kostenuik & Ratnapalan, 2010). Suicide prevention programs should center on the awareness of these signs and indicate services that suicidal individuals can use for help in alleviating suicidal ideation

Reaching out to individuals experiencing suicidal ideation is important in the prevention of suicide. Approximately two-thirds of people who commit suicide have not been in any contact with mental health services in the preceding year, while many have never receiving treatment for mental health issues (van Spijker, 2010). Furthermore, many individuals do not express suicidal thoughts to their caregivers. Since access to mental health services is an important part of prevention and anonymity seems to be an issue, the internet may provide an effective means of reaching suicidal individuals and providing a sort of self-help intervention (van Spijker, 2010).