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The Corona Crucible – Fri 4th September

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Authorities have said that the current suicide rate in Australia has not increased, however calls to crisis lines like Lifeline have jumped substantially. There are a lot of people doing it very tough. Financial problems are one of the main causes for worry and stress across the community.

Professor Hickie from Sydney University’s Brain and Mind Centre says that the most important mental health support on offer at the moment is JobKeeper. His modelling suggests there will likely be an increase in the rate of suicide over the next few years.

JobKeeper has indeed been a lifeline for millions of Australians, but the Federal Government is cutting the rate of JobKeeper at the end of this month. This will increase financial pressure that could lead to tragic outcomes. JobSeeker is also being cut.

The cutbacks will not be good for the economy either. As businesses start to re-open, people need money to be able to spend it.  

In Victoria 81 new cases of COVID-19 were announced today, plus 59 deaths. Fifty of these deaths occurred over recent weeks, but aged care facilities have only notified authorities today.