The fact that suicide remains the leading cause of death for Australians aged 15 to 44 is "simply unacceptable" says leading Illawarra psychologist Alex Hains.
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Young Australians are more likely to take their own life than die in motor vehicle accidents according to national health data to be released today.
That's why Dr Hains, regional manager of the Illawarra Shoalhaven Suicide Prevention Collaborative, is calling for a national campaign on suicide prevention - like the successful road toll campaigns.
"Local data shows that suicides are occurring across all of our communities, regardless of where you live, how much you earn, your age, cultural background or sexual orientation," he said.
"Suicide is a whole-of-community issue and warrants a whole-of-community response.
"We've seen large-scale, prolonged national campaigns about the road toll that have resulted in a steady decline in deaths related to road accidents.
"Australia needs a similar whole-of-community approach to suicide."
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Deaths in Australia report revealed that in 2017 there were 160,909 deaths. Two-thirds of those deaths were people aged 75 or above.
However the data revealed that suicide was the leading cause of death among people aged 15 to 24 (35 per cent), followed by land transport accidents (22 per cent).
For people aged 25 to 44, it was also suicide (21 per cent), followed by accidental poisoning (12 per cent).
The data for the Wollongong, Shellharbour and Kiama local government areas showed that - similar to the rest of the nation - heart attacks, dementia, lung cancer, lung disease and diabetes were the leading causes of death overall.
Suicide was the 15th most common cause of death for all ages in the Wollongong LGA, leading to 111 deaths in 2017.
Dr Hains said the region's suicide prevention collaborative was made up of 40 local organisations and community groups, all working together to reduce suicides.
Since it formed in 2015, an estimated 200,000 residents have been reached by the collaborative's community awareness campaigns and nearly 8000 students have undertaken a mental health program.
Further more than 2000 residents have been trained to recognise and respond to suicidality through online training, during the Care to QPR campaign run in conjunction with the Mercury.
Hundreds of health professionals have had access to advanced training around suicidality, and almost 250 people have completed mental health screening as part of a program in general practice.
"We have achieved a lot to improve the supports available for suicidal people," Dr Hains said. "But there is of course still much to do."
Visit www.suicidepreventioncollaborative.org.au to find out what local supports are available, or to sign up to QPR training.
For crisis support call Lifeline on 13 11 14.