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STATISTICS
The Federal Government has delayed releasing suicide statistics over the past few years and more recently have been delayed even further where they are over two years behind.
Due to this we are unable to determine how many deaths YEARLY there are.
Suicide/Mental Illness is the cause of death of hundreds of thousands of lives every year. Nothing alarms a family more than losing a loved one to suicide/mental illness.
USA over 35,000, China over 300,000, Japan over 33,000, India over 100,000.
In Australia it is very difficult for us to estimate due to the process of collating data determining a suicide. The coroner's role is to determine the cause of death, not the leading circumstances to the death but we estimate in excess of 8,000. This list goes on with a "Final total of over 1 Million Suicides World Wide Yearly". This is shear devastation in anyone's opinion.
Do their deaths touch the hearts of the world? Are these people remembered with dignity and respect? Are any buried by state funerals? If mass suicides occur what is the reaction? Are the surviving families helped in any way? Are there telethons to raise the much needed funds? Are we caring, compassionate and understanding to those suffering this dreaded illness and their surviving families?
Here in Australia we know of families that have lost all their children to suicide (4) in other families parents have lost three and two children. Others have lost mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, cousins, uncles, aunties, grandparents etc. In many cases family members are the first on the scene and have found their loved ones, their own flesh and blood in horrific circumstances. All of these people are traumatised, devastated but yet they must grieve in silence and cope alone.
If a million people were killed by any other means there would be a huge response/outcry.
Why the difference?
How many more people must die before "Action Against Suicide" is taken seriously?
White Wreath Memorial Services are held to:
create an awareness to the serious issue of mental illness and the need to address it appropriately and immediately. create awareness that there is a need to support and educate the families and carers of people with mental illness so that they are better prepared and able to support and care for their loved ones. remind Government and the whole of Australia that every life is precious. That these people are not just statistics, but are/were dearly loved human beings, loved by their families and carers.