Tony Humphrey – president of the suicide prevention group Club SPERANZA – is urging the government to make mental health a priority in 2012 and to actively support individuals and families affected by suicide.

“We need a redesigned community mental health system, a personalised continuum of care model and an open dialogue pilot program,” he said.

Mr Humphrey, also president of the Australian Mental Health Suicide Consumer Alliance, lost his daughter Michelle to suicide in 1985. She was 23.

As a result of his daughter’s death, Mr Humphrey began campaigning for people affected by suicide that occurs while in care.

“Suicide is the ultimate fear in every family where mental illness becomes resident,” Mr Humphrey said.

“And the incidence of suicide in care and the consequences on the families is of such dramatic proportions that it cannot be ignored.”

Earlier this year an inquest into the death of Kirrily Murphy heard that the young Maitland mother was distressed when she left Maitland Hospital’s Mental Health Unit.

Mrs Murphy, 30, took her own life on June 4, 2006, two weeks after telling staff she wanted to kill herself.

As part of his submission to the senate Mr Humphrey recalled the story of aspiring model Karlin Monaghan who, in 1995, was admitted to Hornsby Hospital for treatment for depression.

She was able to walk out of the hospital and commit suicide.

In October 1998 the Monaghan family was awarded $750,000 in an out-of-court settlement.

In December her father died. The following March her mother and brother committed suicide together in the family garage.

“These stories show that the failures are continuing undiminished and we must begin external examination remodelling,” Mr Humphrey said.

“These people cannot be denied justice and service any longer. The government needs to significantly increase the amount of care available in the community while also implementing crisis centres outside of hospitals.”