Llew O'Brien (Wide Bay, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

As a Beyond Blue bureau speaker, parent, former policeman and someone who has to manage my own mental health, I welcome the Prime Minister's commitment to take real action on suicide and mental ill health. I particularly want to thank Tarsos and Tricia Barounis for telling their heartbreaking story recently about the suicide of their beautiful son, Yannis, a17-year-old young man. I want to congratulate them for developing an online resource, 'Let It Out Now', to help tackle youth suicide. I also recognise our local paper, the Fraser Coast Chronicle, for giving this important issue such sensitive coverage.

In Australia, more than one million people experience depression and more than two million people experience anxiety conditions—that is, one in six women and one in eight men. Mental health conditions don't discriminate. Suicide devastates families, friends and communities. The Morrison government has committed almost $5 million to boosting mental health services, including $375 million for increasing headspace clinics in our country. I'm proud of the fact that we've recently delivered one in Gympie and there is one soon to come in Maryborough. There is no-one person that isn't affected by mental health in our community, whether it is yourself, a family member or a member of the community. I'm proud of the government for doing what it is doing.

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