According to a report by the National Health and Medical Research
Council, the suicide rates in Australia are “at an unacceptably high level”.
The same report also estimates that in Queensland alone suicide costs due
to loss in productive life-years lost is around $40 million. Extrapolated to
the whole country, this represents an enormous cost. When it is considered
that there are around 30 parasuicides in Australia for every completed
suicide these costs increase dramatically. The loss, pain and grief suffered
by family, friends and the community is far greater and more profound
than the economic loss.