Five years of drought followed by damaging floods could lead some of the people hardest hit by the flooding across Western NSW considering suicide, Lifeline Central West is concerned.
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Just a day after the latest suicide statistics show show a worrying increase, Lifeline Central West executive officer Alex Ferguson feared the current disaster affecting large areas of NSW, including Forbes, Warren and Condobolin may prove a tipping point.
Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows there were 3027 suicides nationally in 2015, an increase of 163 on 2014, which was almost 300 higher than 2013.
Suicides are now three times the national road toll and continuing an upward trend.
- Alex Ferguson
Mr Ferguson said the increasing trend was a major concern and two of the demographics most at risk in Western NSW were male farmers and young Aboriginals.
The tireless campaigner is hoping farmers who have been hit hard by floods reach out for help, rather than trying to end their lives.
“The physical loss caused by the floods, as well as the financial and emotional loss, can combine to really weigh a person down,” he said.
“People may have thought a couple of weeks ago that they were on track for a good season and now this rain has destroyed their crops.
“What we want to is for people to pick up the phone and talk to someone.”
The average age of a farmer is now 63 and Mr Ferguson said hard years may also take a more painful toll.
“A large part of their life’s work is literally going down the river and they may find it very hard to pick themselves up again,” he said.
The increasing rate of suicide is a major concern, Mr Ferguson said, and more has to be done to reduce the stigma surrounding it.
“Suicides are now three times the national road toll and continuing an upward trend,” he said.
“Nearly 500 more people committed suicide in 2015 than 2013. Something has to be done.”
If you need help call Lifeline on 13 11 14.