Regional Australians impacted by suicide are more likely to experience multiple losses of family, friends and community members (67 per cent) compared to their city counterparts (60 per cent) – new research has revealed for the first time.

The research also shows growing concerns that the state of the economy, jobs (+7 per cent), cost of living (+4 per cent) and drugs and alcohol use (+5 per cent) will increase suicide rates in the regions in the wake of COVID-19.

National peak body Suicide Prevention Australia yesterday released the regional-specific results in the lead up to World Suicide Prevention Day - today, Thursday 10 September.

CEO Nieves Murray says over 4 million regional Australians have been personally impacted by suicide and she supports the federal government introducing a standalone National Suicide Prevention Act that takes a whole of government, not just mental health, approach.

“The better we can proactively predict what economic and social risks are facing our regional and rural communities, the better we can prepare Australians and prevent suicide rates increasing," Ms Murray says.

“International evidence shows the best way to achieve this is through a standalone National Suicide Prevention Act that embeds a whole of government, not just a mental health, response.”

In some encouraging news, Ms Murray says a third of regional Australians have accessed a suicide prevention service – either for themselves or on behalf of someone else – the same rate as their city counterparts.

The regional results are from an exclusive YouGov poll of over 1000 Australians, commissioned by Suicide Prevention Australia as part of World Suicide Prevention Day 2020.

“In shining a light on suicide prevention, it’s important to not only help those in need, but also support Australians to know what to say beyond RUOK?”