A major assessment of Canberra's demand for mental health services, including the need for more suicide prevention services, will be one of the key initial tasks of the ACT's new Office of Mental Health.
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Mental Health Minister Shane Rattenbury said this week the new office would be undertaking the "crucial work" to ensure the "community's needs are met".
"Suicide is a largely preventable cause of death that is taking the lives of too many young Australians, and too many Canberrans, every year," he said.
"The ACT Government recognises the seriousness of mental illness in our community, which is why we created a dedicated Ministerial portfolio for Mental Health, and are in the process of establishing an Office of Mental Health and developing new targets for suicide reduction."
It follows the Capital Health Network calling on the government to complete, and fund, a study into the demand for suicide prevention services in Canberra in this years' budget, as well as a recent inquiry into youth suicide and self-harm, which the government has pledged to respond to, including by installing 20 more psychologists in schools.
Mr Rattenbury said part of the new Office's role would be "to establish a clear picture of the prevalence of mental health concerns, suicide attempts and the demand for suicide prevention services in the ACT so that we can ensure we are meeting the needs of our community".
But he did not pledge to ensure funding for the study would be committed in the coming financial year - likely an issue that will be the subject of coming discussions between Mr Rattenbury and Chief Minister and Treasurer Andrew Barr.
But Mr Rattenbury said the government had "already committed to working with health professionals including the CHN to "ascertain community need and to develop a suicide reduction strategy".
If you need help, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14, Kid's Helpline on 1800 55 1800 and go to ACT Health's Let's Talk website for more contact details of support services available.
