WA agencies pledge to prevent suicide

• 72 agencies support the WA 'One Life' Suicide Prevention Strategy
• Suicide prevention and mental health first aid for workplace policies

Radio stations, unions, law firms, Government departments and mining companies have pledged to introduce suicide prevention and mental health policies in the workplace.

By signing a Gold, Silver or Bronze pledge, 72 organisations have committed to raise awareness, fund community plans and encourage employees to become a 'One Life' suicide prevention champion.

Mental Health Minister Helen Morton said mental health and suicide prevention policies needed to become common place and easily recognised at work.

"Suicide prevention is best achieved by everyone working together and learning how to recognise the signs of depression or mental illness," Mrs Morton said.

"Most of us spend the majority of our day at work, so if people know what to look for they could save a workmate's life.

"When a workplace implements preventative strategies, productivity increases, lives are saved and it creates a better working environment."

The pledges run alongside the Government's $13million State Suicide Prevention Strategy, which has 21 Community Action Plans across 106 communities.

Organisations have also pledged to reduce stigma in newsletters, payslips and staff inductions and spread the message of suicide prevention on World Suicide Prevention Day, September 10, 2012 and RUOK? Day on September 13, 2012.

      Fact File

• About 240 West Australians take their own lives each year
• One in five Australians will experience some form of mental illness each year
• Almost half the population experience at least one mental health problem in their life
• Stress leave costs Australian employers $10billion per year
• 3.2 days per worker are lost each year because of work place stress
• 38 per cent of people will not tell their employer they have a mental illness
• To sign up to the pledge go to http://www.onelifewa.com.au

Minister's office  - 6552 6900