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Suicide Awareness & Prevention
We are asking for improvements to the current mental health system. Suicide can be prevented.

In 2005 2,101 people committed suicide in Australia¹, which is equal to 40 body bags per week every 12 months. This is 105.5 deaths per million of the population, Australias population being 20 million.

On September 11th 2001, 2,824 people died from the terrorist attacks². The U.S have a population of 300 million which is 9.39 deaths per 1 million of the population.

Australias Suicide Rate per Capita as compared to the Death Rate per Capita the USA experienced from 9/11 is over 1,000% HIGHER. (105.5 / 9.39 = 1,118%)

In loving memory of my son Paul - Joseph Pizzolo.

This site was developed on behalf of Joseph Pizzolo so as to enable him; to share his son Pauls' Poetry, reach out to others and to promote awareness about the issues of Suicide & Bi-polar disorder. Many of us do not realise the extent of the affects brought about by suicide, let alone the statistics or what is being done about it? We are not saying one cause is more important or playing down the significance of other tragedies, but rather highlighting the issues which many of us are not aware of & pointing out the fact that something can be done.

Joseph has been looking for a way to further the cause for the last two years prompted by his own son tragically taking his own life. It was at that time, that he became aware and greatly impacted by the enormous lack of support and resources for both himself and his son before and after his death. Tragically Paul was no longer able to struggle with the anguish of Bi-polar disorder.

In 2007 Joseph Pizzolo decided to put his own funds into the prevention of suicide through raising awareness about suicide and mental health issues, through appealing to both the nation and our politicians in hope that such issues would be addressed and future suicide statistics prevented from rising. Through sufficient funding, education and resources we believe that lives can be saved³.

Further Statistics to Think About.

It is reported that the Australian Government allocated the following amounts for 2005-2006:

• Better integration of Mental Health, Drug and Alcohol Abuse and Suicide Prevention $8.4 Million.
• Mental Health-Beyond Blue $8.2 Million
• Youth Mental Health $15.5 Million⁴.

By Comparison.

Promises were made to commit $10 million for a V8 Supercar race and $20 million to upgrade a Mall, presumably owned by private enterprise. This equates to 93% of the TOTAL BUDGET for Mental Health in 2005/2006.⁵

1. Professor Patrick Mc Gorry, The Age, Melbourne, Australia: 27th April, 2007, p. 13.
2. Chief Medical Examiner, WTC, NY City Dept. of Health, USA: 18th April, 2002.
3. Herald-Sun. P4 19/11/07
4. Better outcomes for Mental Health Care Innitiative. See
Ref-Aust. Govt Budget 2005-06.
5. Herald-Sun P11 15/11/07.