Central Coast Youth Suicide

About this Item
Speakers - McBride Mr Grant; Aquilina Mr John
Business - Private Members Statements

CENTRAL COAST YOUTH SUICIDE

Mr McBRIDE (The Entrance) [6.09 p.m.]: On 19 November 1996, following the Central Coast Suicide Summit at the Central Coast Leagues Club organised by a locally-based committee chaired by Eric Trezise, a community representative of the Central Coast Area Health Service suicides outcomes group, I advised the Parliament of the details of the central coast suicide crisis. Since that occasion three young people known to my children have committed suicide. Tragically two of those deaths have occurred in the last month: Scott McCluand, 18, took his life last Tuesday and four weeks ago his 14-year-old girlfriend Sandy Kain took her life. As I watched Chris, Scott’s mother, on the Today morning program on Tuesday, the enormity of this tragedy struck again like a sledgehammer. Knowing Chris personally and knowing that she is a gutsy person, I was still overwhelmed by her capacity to front the media in a bid to stop her personal tragedy being repeated.

Chris is right: something should be done and done now. However, as Chris reflected in her interview, there are no simple answers. Many of the suicide cases are unexplainable to family and friends. Superficially there often appears to be no explanation. In one case known to my family the young person was apparently typical of youth on the central coast: happy and in a good job with an attractive career path. Those who saw and spoke with him immediately prior to his death reported him to be apparently happy and content. Tragically, within a day he was dead.

These tragedies beg the question: why does the central coast have this problem, particularly amongst its young people? Chris McCluand mentioned other facets of the problem that I also agree need to be followed up. Chris mentioned a pact amongst young people, between boyfriend and girlfriend, to follow each other into death. She also mentioned the existence of videotapes relating to death and how to commit suicide. Chris mentioned music and lyrics that romanticise and encourage young death and a code of excluding parents from this aspect of their lives. Chris McCluand also made a plea for easy access for parents to information and help when they become concerned about their children. No-one but a mother or carer can pick up the subtle nuances of a change in a youth’s personality. Therefore, it is of paramount importance that access is provided to assistance and advice.

It has been suggested that schools be the focus of a youth suicide strategy. However, I feel strongly that schools are already overloaded with health and welfare-related issues. Health should have the primary role and, as Australia has one of the highest suicide rates in the world, this matter should be approached as a national issue. More than 2,500 suicides occur annually in Australia, which is 1,000 people more, or 67 per cent higher, than the national road toll. We all know the community attitude to road safety and the amount of money that has been spent on it both nationally and by the State. I stress that point: 2,500 suicides annually, which is 1,000 people more than the annual national road toll.

As well, issues such as music, music lyrics and videotapes are Federal responsibilities. Suicide is certainly a massive problem on the central coast, where last year’s suicide rate was double that of the year before and twice the national average, bearing in mind that the national average is one of the highest in the western world. So far as the matter concerns the State Government, this week I made personal representations on the issue of youth suicide on the central coast to the Premier, the Deputy Premier and Minister for Health, and the Minister for Education and Training. All expressed heartfelt concern for the situation. I was told that, notwithstanding the $5.5 million allocated last year and a further $7 million in this year’s budget for suicide-related issues, the central coast situation will be urgently reviewed.

I am appreciative of the collective concern expressed by these senior Ministers and their willingness to direct their departments to urgently address this problem. I will write to the Prime Minister again, urging his Government’s immediate involvement, in particular relating to videotapes,
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music cassettes and disks. As I said, suicide is a national problem that needs national support. Through this Parliament I ask the Prime Minister to personally take up this tragic issue as he did the Port Arthur massacre.

Mr AQUILINA (Riverstone - Minister for Education and Training, and Minister Assisting the Premier on Youth Affairs) [6.14 p.m.]: I acknowledge the concerns that have been raised by the honourable member for The Entrance on this sensitive but pertinent issue. I note the honourable member’s comments that this issue goes far beyond the boundaries of schools and, of course, far beyond the school concerned. Nonetheless, I appreciate that schools play a special role in the needs of young people who have fallen victim to this terrible tragedy of modern times. No issue could be more serious or harrowing than a young person taking his or her life. I am disturbed about the high level of suicide, particularly youth suicide and, as the honourable member for The Entrance said, particularly youth suicide on the central coast.

The Deputy Premier and Minister for Health last year allocated $5.5 million towards a statewide program for the prevention of suicide and the closely related issue of depression in young people. Also, the Minister for Health recognises his particular responsibilities in relation to the broad issue of mental health. Schools statewide have a policy which not only tries to avert youth suicide but also provides an enormous degree of counselling to help the companions, particularly the school companions, of a young person who has suicided. It must be appreciated that the suicide of a young schoolperson has enormous impact on the school community, the fellow students as well as staff. Immediate emergency debriefing and trauma counselling is organised for all staff and students to assist them to come to terms with the incident and its consequences so as to allow them people to return to a normal level of functioning as quickly as possible. Teams of counsellors from local and other schools are sent in. It is a wide and intense counselling process. Youth suicide is a big problem and there are no easy solutions. I congratulate the honourable member on bringing this matter to the attention of the House. [Time expired.]

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