Dr Glasson said the loss of anyone to suicide is a premature, needless death that has a devastating impact on families and communities.

“People who commit suicide leave behind family and friends whose lives are profoundly affected emotionally, socially, and economically,” Dr Glasson said.

Statistics show that:

• -- Males consistently have higher rates of suicide than women.

• -- Suicide takes more male lives every year than motor vehicle accidents.

• -- In 2000 there were 2,363 deaths attributed to intentional self harm (suicide), 5% lower than the 1999 figure and 13% lower than the record 2,723 deaths registered in 1997.

• -- Deaths as a result of suicide account for more than one in five deaths of persons aged 25-34 years (a rate of 20.1 per 100,000 persons) and 15-24 years (12.5 per 100,000).

• -- Homosexuality issues may be involved in up to one third of young men under 24 who suicide.

• -- Men aged over 80 years have a suicide incidence rate six times greater than that of women the same age.

• -- Suicide is more common amongst males in rural and remote areas.

• -- The rate of suicide increases in communities with populations of less than 4,000.

• -- Aboriginal suicide rates are possibly two to three times that of non-Aboriginal Australians.

“Research is needed into the groups at risk of suicide, such as middle-aged and older men, indigenous people and the gay and lesbian community,” Dr Glasson said.

“Studies show that men suicide for a number of reasons. Unemployment, loss of loved ones, social isolation, a breakdown in relationships, living in poverty, depression and other forms of mental illness are all known causes.

“There’s a distinct correlation between employment status and suicide. In periods of high unemployment, such as during the Depression, suicide rates soared.

“In our society, men still typically see themselves, as 'breadwinners' and 'providers'. When they cannot fulfil this role due to unemployment or underemployment, their self esteem suffers.

“Mental health problems contribute significantly to suicidal behaviours in people of all ages. Various studies, both in Australia and overseas, have shown that more than 90 per cent of people who committed suicide were suffering from some form of mental illness, often depression.

“Early identification and appropriate treatment of mental illness is vital if we hope to further decrease the rates of suicide in our community,” Dr Glasson said.

According to the Mental Health Council of Australia over two million people in Australia experience a mental illness each year.

Lack of community understanding about the treatments available for mental disorders, and poorly resourced and poorly distributed service systems, means most people with mental disorders receive no treatment or treatment that fails to meet international standards for optimal care.

Australia spends seven per cent of its health budget on mental health. International comparisons are only approximate, but other first-world countries spend 10-14 per cent of their total health expenditure on mental health (UK 10 per cent, Canada 11 per cent, NZ 11 per cent).

The AMA calls for increased funding of mental health services as a proportion of total health spending from the present 7.5 per cent to 12 per cent (average across the OECD countries). This would require an increase of $1.3 billion to $4 billion through the Australian Health Care Agreements, PBS and other measures.