❓ Hon Lynn MacLaren asks about LGBTI suicide rates and related government programs. The Minister acknowledges higher rates and details funding for specific and inclusive initiatives, including WA AIDS Council's Freedom Centre and broader suicide prevention strategies.
AnsweredQoN 4698Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Is the Minister aware that suicide rates among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) communities have been found to be 3.5 to 14 times higher than the general community?
(2) Will the Minister please provide details of any programs that her Government has funded that attempt to reduce the number of suicides in these communities?
(3) Has the Minister been advised by LGBTI advocates of the need for programs to lower the risk of youth suicide in these communities?
(4) Please provide advice of any programs in Western Australia targeted at LGBTI young people for the purpose of suicide prevention.
(2) Will the Minister please provide details of any programs that her Government has funded that attempt to reduce the number of suicides in these communities?
(3) Has the Minister been advised by LGBTI advocates of the need for programs to lower the risk of youth suicide in these communities?
(4) Please provide advice of any programs in Western Australia targeted at LGBTI young people for the purpose of suicide prevention.
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
10 November 2011
Responded by
Minister for Mental Health
Response time
49 days
(1-4) Yes, ABS data shows that the LGBTI community have a higher rate of suicide than the general community. I have been advised by LGBTI advocates of the need for programs to lower the risk of youth suicide in these communities.
The Mental Health Commission provides funding to the Western Australian AIDS Council for the Freedom Centre to deliver early intervention programs to LGBTI young people. This includes the collection of routine quality of life consumer outcome measures using consumer self-reports and questionnaires; internet forums and discussion panels to provide peer support and information relevant to the target group, and opportunity for young people to ask questions, in an anonymous and accessible manner;drop-in sessions each with a different focus to cater to the needs of the client group, such as Guyspace, Girlspace, Freespace, Outspace and GenderQ; and interactive workshops that cater to the needs of the clients.
The target group for this service is young people (aged 15 to 25) with same sex attraction and psychological, emotional and/or behavioural problems. Consumers can be referred to this service from health services, general practitioners, private psychiatrists and other health professionals. They must have ongoing clinical support guaranteed by a public mental health service, a private psychiatrist or a general practitioner.
The State Government has also funded a range of initiatives for suicide prevention which are inclusive of LGBTI communities, such as $13 million for the Statewide Suicide Prevention Strategy 2009-2013 (Strategy) - which includes funding for 0.5 FTE for three months as part of a specific LGBTI CAP; $1.2 million over four years to Youth Focus to help young people to overcome issues associated with self-harm, depression and suicide; $500,000 to Lifeline to recruit and train additional crisis telephone counsellors; and almost $1million in 2010/11 for counselling and early intervention services, crisis lines and national initiatives such as
beyondblue.
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The Mental Health Commission provides funding to the Western Australian AIDS Council for the Freedom Centre to deliver early intervention programs to LGBTI young people. This includes the collection of routine quality of life consumer outcome measures using consumer self-reports and questionnaires; internet forums and discussion panels to provide peer support and information relevant to the target group, and opportunity for young people to ask questions, in an anonymous and accessible manner;drop-in sessions each with a different focus to cater to the needs of the client group, such as Guyspace, Girlspace, Freespace, Outspace and GenderQ; and interactive workshops that cater to the needs of the clients.
The target group for this service is young people (aged 15 to 25) with same sex attraction and psychological, emotional and/or behavioural problems. Consumers can be referred to this service from health services, general practitioners, private psychiatrists and other health professionals. They must have ongoing clinical support guaranteed by a public mental health service, a private psychiatrist or a general practitioner.
The State Government has also funded a range of initiatives for suicide prevention which are inclusive of LGBTI communities, such as $13 million for the Statewide Suicide Prevention Strategy 2009-2013 (Strategy) - which includes funding for 0.5 FTE for three months as part of a specific LGBTI CAP; $1.2 million over four years to Youth Focus to help young people to overcome issues associated with self-harm, depression and suicide; $500,000 to Lifeline to recruit and train additional crisis telephone counsellors; and almost $1million in 2010/11 for counselling and early intervention services, crisis lines and national initiatives such as
beyondblue.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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