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STATISTICS generally make for dry reading.
But if ever you should take note of a number, make it this one – 2361.
According to the causes of death data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics this week, that is how many people took their own lives in Australia in 2010.
It’s not a high number. In fact, it only accounts for 1.6 per cent of all deaths in Australia that year.
But without being alarmist, it should concern all of us – because every one of those deaths was preventable.
Yet no one wants to know about it. No one wants to talk about it. No one understands suicide.
Stacey McGregor, however, knows only too well why we should be talking about it – and that’s why she spoke out in last Saturday’s Bendigo Advertiser about the issue.
Stacey lost her only two siblings to suicide, four weeks apart.
Her story told of a decade of living in isolation and pain. A decade where she learnt to live a new life, without her brother or sister, both of whom had always been by her side.
A story of a young woman who effectively lost the best part of her life because her two siblings took theirs.
Stacey bravely told her story in the hope that anyone thinking of taking their own life would think of those left behind.
“Just don’t do it,’’ she said.
“I want people to think of their family first – and how they might react and deal with it.’’
And Stacey wants us, as a community, to keep talking. To each other, but also generally about suicide and suicidal thoughts.
“People do care, and they want to help,’’ she said.
It’s because of Stacey, and very much her mother Alannah, that the Bendigo Advertiser is backing this Saturday’s Suicide Prevention Awareness Network walk.
It’s for Stacey. For Alannah, a driving force behind the walk, and for every other person touched by suicide.
The walk allows those affected by suicide to remember loved ones, friends, work or school mates – but more importantly, it is a public event that is deliberately being held in the middle of the day to draw attention and get people talking about the issue.
It’s to encourage young and old to think of their family and mates and ask them if they’re going okay.
The ABS figures show that suicide deaths comprise a higher proportion of total deaths in younger age groups compared with older age groups, and 24 per cent of all male deaths aged 15-24 were caused by suicide. Males accounted for more than 75 per cent of all suicide deaths, with suicide ranking as the 10th leading cause of death of males and the 15th leading cause of death overall.
Why are we not talking about this?
ABS statistics on suicide are not dry reading. In fact, they’re enough to bring a tear to your eye.
It is time to talk about suicide – responsibly, sensitively and safely.
Nicole Ferrie is the Bendigo Advertiser’s deputy editor. Email cos@bendigoadvertiser.com.au