The chairman of Lifeline says we need to introduce a target to reduce the number of suicides in Australia.

3128 people died by suicide last year, an increase of nine per cent in the previous year.

The pressure is now on for the government to introduce a national suicide prevention target to prevent the needless loss of life.

Lifeline Chairman John Brogden tells John Stanley we’ve come a long way in reducing the stigma but the data shows we aren’t doing anywhere near enough.

“In most jurisdictions including New South Wales and Queensland, there’s been an increase in suicide numbers so we’re going the wrong way. That’s the real problem.

“We’ve never spent as much money as we’re spending now on suicide.

“We are talking about it, no longer pretending it doesn’t happen, so we’re doing a lot of good things.

“But we’re clearly not breaking through.”

Mr Brogden tells John a suicide prevention target has worked in other parts of the world and should be implemented here.

“This is about getting the community and not-for-profits and organisations like Lifeline all linked together to say this is no longer good enough, we’re going to do something about it.”

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Those who need support can call Lifeline on 13 11 14.