Suicide Prevention Act 2025

This Act is the Suicide Prevention Act 2025.

This Act commences on a day or days to be appointed by proclamation.

The dictionary in Schedule 1 defines words used in this Act.

Note—

The Interpretation Act 1987 contains definitions and other provisions that affect the interpretation and application of this Act.

The objectives of this Act are as follows—

to reduce suicide distress and the incidence of suicide in New South Wales,

to increase the capabilities of government sector agencies in relation to suicide prevention,

to address the needs of populations disproportionately impacted by suicide, including by requiring the development and implementation of culturally appropriate initiatives for Aboriginal people.

The Mental Health Commission must prepare and support the implementation of the following plans (the Statewide plans)—

a Statewide suicide prevention plan,

a Statewide Aboriginal suicide prevention plan.

In preparing the Statewide plans, the Mental Health Commission must have regard to the following—

the objectives of this Act,

the needs of priority population groups,

the specific needs and circumstances of Aboriginal people,

the need to increase the capabilities of government sector agencies in relation to suicide prevention,

the effects of infrastructure and urban design,

evidence and data related to suicide and suicide prevention,

lived experience of the impacts of suicide and attempted suicide.

The Mental Health Commission must review each Statewide plan—

at least once every 5 years, and

at other times directed by the Minister.

The head of each of the following government sector agencies must ensure the agency prepares and implements a suicide prevention plan (an agency suicide prevention plan) for the agency—

a Department,

the NSW Police Force,

another government sector agency prescribed by the regulations.

In preparing an agency suicide prevention plan, a government sector agency must have regard to the Statewide plans.

Without limiting subsection (1), the government sector agency must have regard to the following—

the objectives of this Act,

the needs of the sections of the population serviced by the government sector agency that are disproportionately impacted by suicide,

the effects of infrastructure and urban design, if relevant,

the need for measures to enhance suicide prevention capabilities by addressing systemic drivers of suicide prevention, including strengthening systems, policies, advice, education and training in relation to the prevention of suicide,

the need for measures to help promote access to advice, education, information and training to relevant staff of the agency in relation to the prevention of suicide,

lived experience of the impacts of suicide and attempted suicide.

The regulations may provide for a government sector agency’s suicide prevention plan to apply to another government sector agency.

In this section—

relevant staff, of a government sector agency, means—

staff of the government sector agency, and

if a regulation has been made under subsection (3)—staff of another government sector agency to which the suicide prevention plan applies.

The head of a government sector agency must ensure the agency’s suicide prevention plan is reviewed at least once every 5 years.

The regulations may provide for matters relating to the review of agency suicide prevention plans, including providing for additional reviews of the plans in particular circumstances.

The Mental Health Commission’s functions include reviewing, or giving advice to the head of a government sector agency about, an agency suicide prevention plan if requested by the head of the agency.

The Mental Health Commission must—

if directed by the Minister—report to the Minister about the implementation of—

Statewide plans, or

agency suicide prevention plans, and

if a report is given to the Minister under paragraph (a) in a year—include details about the implementation of the plans to which the report relates in the Commission’s annual report for the year.

The Mental Health Commission must, on at least an annual basis, publish on the Commission’s website—

a summary of the advice or recommendations given to the Commission by the Councils since the last summary was published, and

a statement indicating whether each item of advice or recommendation was or was not accepted by the Commission, and

if the advice or recommendation was accepted—a statement about implementation of the advice or recommendation, and

if the advice or recommendation was not accepted—a statement about why the advice or recommendation was not accepted.