Federation Chamber

16 September 2026

Federation Chamber Australian Parliament

22:16 - 22:31
Speaker 5
Are there any constituency statements by honorable members?  I call the member for Mayo. 
22:31 - 24:03
Speaker 2
Thank you, Deputy Speaker.  With World Suicide Prevention Day a week ago, I want to talk about my recent meeting with Aldinga Beach man, Jonathan Hart.  Jonathan, who has experienced suicide distress, wanted to assist others in similar situations.  An estimated 65,000 Australians make a suicide attempt each year.  Tragically, it's the leading cause of premature death for those aged 15 to 49. 

But the vast majority of those who report suicide ideation or distress do not seek professional or clinical help.  In a 2020 report, almost 25% of adult men said they would not seek help, and 80% said they would be unlikely to seek help from a phone line.  Recognizing this, Jonathan started a community mental health awareness and peer support initiative called Glass Empty.  Glass Empty describes how someone in suicide distress feels.  Their glass is no longer half full or half empty. 

Glass Empty does not do the work of a crisis counseling or clinical treatment service.  It's about helping peers feel more comfortable to say, are you okay?  And people feel safer to say, I'm not okay.  Jonathan started Glass Empty to help build human connection by making it easier to start that conversation.  In participating local venues, posters and coasters publicize the Glass Empty message. 

The rest of the transcript is for Pro customers

Unlock the full transcript, chat, and every analysis feature with Polyfact Pro.

The video itself stays free to watch, in full, no account needed.

Start a free trial