Mental Health and Suicide Prevention

HON ALISON XAMON (North Metropolitan) [9.46 pm]: I rise because members may wish to know that 12 May was the international awareness day for myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome and often referred to as ME/CFS. It was part of the #millionsmissing campaign. The #millionsmissing campaign is named in recognition of the many sufferers who are not visible within our community because of the debilitating nature of their illness and its symptoms.

HON ALISON XAMON (North Metropolitan) [5.30 pm]: I rise only because I want to make some brief comments in response to the answer to one of the questions I asked today in question time. I asked a question of the Minister for Health via the parliamentary secretary about the emerging incidence of suicide amongst older Australians. I wanted to know what the Mental Health Commission was doing to address this disturbing trend in this particular population. I received a comprehensive answer that went over much of what is happening generally within the suicide prevention space.