❓ Question regarding suicide rates in Kimberley Aboriginal communities since July 2012 and the community action plans in place. The Minister defers the suicide statistics question to the State Coroner and outlines existing and planned community action plans.
AnsweredQoN 78Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
ABORIGINAL COMMUNITIES — SUICIDES
78. Hon SALLY
TALBOT to the Minister for Mental Health:
I refer to the finding in the ''Western Australia
Suicide Prevention Strategy 2009–2013'', which states —
The emergence of suicide clusters
in Aboriginal communities is of particular concern and requires a coordinated
culturally secure response.
(1) How many
suicides have there been since 1 July 2012 in the communities of Fitzroy, Halls
Creek, Derby, Kununurra, Wyndham and the Dampier Peninsula and in other
Kimberley communities?
(2) What
community action plans are in place for each of these communities?
78. Hon SALLY
TALBOT to the Minister for Mental Health:
I refer to the finding in the ''Western Australia
Suicide Prevention Strategy 2009–2013'', which states —
The emergence of suicide clusters
in Aboriginal communities is of particular concern and requires a coordinated
culturally secure response.
(1) How many
suicides have there been since 1 July 2012 in the communities of Fitzroy, Halls
Creek, Derby, Kununurra, Wyndham and the Dampier Peninsula and in other
Kimberley communities?
(2) What
community action plans are in place for each of these communities?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question.
(1) All suspected
deaths by suicide are reported to the WA State Coroner, who is responsible for
the final determination of the cause of each death. In the case of deaths
within the time frame requested, the Office of the State Coroner would not have
reached its conclusion on all suspected cases. The WA State Coroner, through
the Attorney General, would need to be approached to ascertain any response to
the information requested on the number of deaths in those individual
locations.
Also, the Department of Health
will not release information that could potentially identify an individual
either directly or indirectly.
(2) A stage 1
community action plan was developed and implemented for the Kimberley region by
the Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services Council and was completed in August
2012. This had a budget of $795 769 and included Derby, the Dampier Peninsula,
Fitzroy Valley, Kununurra, Broome and Halls Creek. Subsequently, stage 2
community action plans have been developed and approved for Broome, $428 000;
Derby, $531 700; and the Dampier Peninsula, $304 050. The Ministerial Council
for Suicide Prevention is currently considering applications for stage 2
funding for Fitzroy Valley, Halls Creek and Kununurra.
(1) All suspected
deaths by suicide are reported to the WA State Coroner, who is responsible for
the final determination of the cause of each death. In the case of deaths
within the time frame requested, the Office of the State Coroner would not have
reached its conclusion on all suspected cases. The WA State Coroner, through
the Attorney General, would need to be approached to ascertain any response to
the information requested on the number of deaths in those individual
locations.
Also, the Department of Health
will not release information that could potentially identify an individual
either directly or indirectly.
(2) A stage 1
community action plan was developed and implemented for the Kimberley region by
the Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services Council and was completed in August
2012. This had a budget of $795 769 and included Derby, the Dampier Peninsula,
Fitzroy Valley, Kununurra, Broome and Halls Creek. Subsequently, stage 2
community action plans have been developed and approved for Broome, $428 000;
Derby, $531 700; and the Dampier Peninsula, $304 050. The Ministerial Council
for Suicide Prevention is currently considering applications for stage 2
funding for Fitzroy Valley, Halls Creek and Kununurra.
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