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Suicide, The Hidden Tragedy :: (Howard S. Emanuel)

A timely reminder to all in Gippsland that suicide is not discriminatory by nature, that indeed this appalling waste of life occurs in all communities, including ours....

By Howard S. Emanuel - 22nd July 2006 - Back to News

SUICIDE, THE HIDDEN TRAGEDY.

Howard S. Emanuel (13 July 2006)

The recent announcement of the appointment of Lifeline Gippsland as the official charity of the 2006 GMC Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix will I hope bring into clearer focus the important work that this organisation undertakes in the Gippsland community. Funds raised during the Phillip Island based GP will enable Lifeline to continue its support to both individuals at risk of suicide and to those whom have lost a loved one to suicide.

Perhaps as well this announcement will be a timely reminder to all in Gippsland that suicide is not discriminatory by nature, that indeed this appalling waste of life occurs in all communities, including ours.

As a matter of fact recent results from a 10 year study into suicide in Victoria have shown that Gippsland has the highest rate of suicide in the state, in some instances significantly higher than in other regions such as the Wimmera and the Mallee.

Just why this is indeed the case is still up for discussion and can be a complex and difficult reality for all of us to digest. But digest this fact we must if we are to begin to better understand this malevolent and destructive force among us. It is pointless and no longer appropriate to pretend that suicide does not happen to those we know, that indeed it is a far off phenomena that only affects others. This recent study proves otherwise.

Suicide has often been the unspoken word, the term surrounded in stigma, misunderstanding, fear and loathing. The challenge for all of us is to bring this word into the common lexicon of our daily language, to get used to saying it, to get used to accepting that suicide is a human condition that pillages our communities of its human assets, that leaves the lives of those left behind often wasted, shattered and ruined.

In Australia suicide takes significantly more lives annually than road trauma and leaves many others who unsuccessfully complete suicide, scarred and damaged for life. The flow on effects on family and communities reverberate for years to come.

Consider also that in another recent study it was found that levels of domestic violence, alcohol, drug and substance abuse, teenage binge drinking and family breakdown were higher in Gippsland than other parts of the state. The impact on individuals of family breakdown are known contributors to suicide, especially among males.

Clearly there is much work to be done; clearly we are a region of peoples in Gippsland with major issues to face up to. We must have as our focus the relationships we enjoy with those around us, we must as a region accept that social development is as important as economic prosperity, we must all of us literally work till we drop to better understand what the challenges are that this region faces, what the issues are that have left us with these tragic and terrible statistics as our moniker.

Mental health services, our doctors, psychologists and other professionals are not solely responsible for finding solutions to the tragedy that is suicide, that is a responsibility of all of us, of each and every Gippslander. To continue to deny that suicide exits, to continue to perpetrate the myth that all is well among us, merely condemns the next generation of Gippslanders to the misery and utter devastation that are the hallmarks of this human tragedy. Surely now we have reason enough to act.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: howard-emanuel@hotmail.com

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