Perth Voice Interactive

INDIGENOUS suicide rates in WA are actually worse than official statistics show, says an academic who was recently tasked with providing crisis support to Kimberley families.

Gerry Georgatos says his research showed that almost 1 in 10 Aboriginal deaths was by suicide.

He will be presenting his findings to a state government inquiry on Monday. The standing committee launched the inquiry in March 2016 after Labor MP Josie Farrer raised concerns about a spate of suicides.

“In Western Australia we have a crisis – one in four of all Aboriginal suicides are in WA,” Mr Georgatos told the Voice.

“Fourteen percent of the national Aboriginal population is in WA but more than 25 per cent of the suicides.

“The Kimberly has the second highest suicide rate in the world; eight times the national rate.

“Australian people should understand this catastrophic humanitarian crisis.”

A fly-in, fly-out suicide support team organised by Mr Georgatos was trialled in WA earlier this year, and may eventually be rolled out nationally.

by TRILOKESH CHANMUGAM