Record numbers of Australians are coming forward to seek help from suicide prevention services.

Both the mental health sector and the public see social isolation and the disrupted economy as the two biggest threats over the next 12 months, according to a report released on Friday to mark World Suicide Prevention Day.

Straining an already stretched sector, 84 per cent of suicide prevention professionals have experienced an increase in demand in the past 12 months.

Lifeline is taking the highest daily number of calls in the organisation’s history as repeated lockdowns and ongoing COVID-19 disruption push people to the brink.

We enjoyed a team afternoon tea today to celebrate R U OK Day and check in with each other. Asking R U OK? can change a life. If you need tips on how to start the conversation, head here: https://t.co/RU9Yj1bOVC #RUOK #SuicidePrevention pic.twitter.com/byDekLqHzU

— Suicide Prevention Australia (@SuicidePrevAU) September 9, 2021

The State of the Nation in Suicide Prevention report calls for government funding to keep pace with rising levels of distress and for decision makers to think beyond their own areas of responsibility.

“It’s no good having a minister for health or a minister for women who knows nothing about the suicide risks faced by the people their portfolio represents,” one survey respondent said.

Another person surveyed said, “housing is suicide prevention, employment is suicide prevention, finance is suicide prevention, access to legal support is suicide prevention.”

Advocate Nieves Murray said young people were seeking help at twice the rate of their parent’s generations, following decades of work on countering the stigma around mental health.

Women are significantly more concerned about suicide risks in all of the top categories compared to men.

These included social isolation and loneliness (70 per cent versus 58 per cent), unemployment and job security (64 per cent versus 53 per cent), family and relationship breakdowns (62 per cent versus 52 per cent), and the cost of living and household debt (61 per cent versus 50 per cent).

The gap was closer on suicide risks from drug and alcohol abuse at 56 per cent for women versus 50 per cent for men, and housing access and affordability (39 per cent versus 32 per cent).

Just three per cent believed services for priority populations were appropriately funded.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples had the greatest need of more support, according to the data.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer communities and culturally and linguistically diverse communities were also being left behind.

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists president Vinay Lakra said there was a “significant shortage” of the psychiatrists needed to service mental health needs.

“This has only been further exacerbated by the surge in mental health demand during COVID, with wait times as long as nine months,” he said.

Ongoing gaps in critical data were also found to be limiting efforts to prevent suicide.

Two-thirds of Australians support a Suicide Prevention Act similar to Japan, which once had the world’s highest suicide rate before it began to look across society and government to turn it around.

Lifeline 13 11 14

beyondblue 1300 22 4636

Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25)

-AAP