In response to the latest Closing the Gap Data Dashboard and Annual Data Compilation Report, Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia has called for all levels of government to do more under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

The organisation noted on Thursday that the report shows that at 29.9 per 100,000 people, the suicide age-standardised rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is higher than the previous two years and the 2018 baseline figure (25.1 per 100,000 people).

Gayaa Dhuwi chair, Professor Helen Milroy AM, said: "Our people deserve to live long and happy lives, enjoying high levels of social and emotional wellbeing, but the latest update shows we aren't on track for this to happen – in fact unless serious action is taken, mortality due to suicide for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is estimated to continue increasing."

"The National Agreement on Closing the Gap provides a clear roadmap for how governments and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples can work in partnership to improve our lives, but the reality is partnership actions aren't being undertaken in the spirit in which they were drafted," she said.

"Widescale systemic changes are needed – including genuinely sharing decision making with and building up the community-controlled sector, addressing institutional racism, and providing access to locally-relevant data."

Gayaa Dhuwi said the Data Dashboard update and Annual Data Compilation Reports are "clear examples" of why the Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Declaration Implementation Plan needs to be launched and "embedded" into Australia's mental health system.

"The Gayaa Dhuwi Declaration Implementation Plan was developed by an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander National Governance Committee and a Government Advisory Committee. It was tested with community members with a lived experience of mental health and social and emotional wellbeing services", said Professor Milroy.

"It's ready to go – let's start actioning it".

The Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Declaration focuses on a 'best of both worlds' approach to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health, social and emotional wellbeing, and suicide prevention; promoting an appropriate balance of clinical and culturally-informed mental health system responses.

More to come.