The gap remains: NHMRC research funding for suicide and self-harm, 2000–2014

Christensen, Helen; Krysinska, Karolina; Murray, Sue

doi:10.5694/mja15.00300

Topics

To the Editor: In an article on National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) funding for the National Health Priority Areas, Christensen and colleagues concluded that there was no narrowing of the gap in the proportion of funding provided to mental health research from 2001 to 2010.1 In particular, NHMRC funding per disability-adjusted life-year was the lowest for suicide and self-harm in comparison with other mental health categories and did not increase over 2001–2009.

1 Black Dog Institute, Sydney, NSW.
2 Suicide Prevention Australia, Sydney, NSW.

Correspondence: h.christensen@blackdog.org.au

Competing interests:

No relevant disclosures.

1. Christensen H, Batterham PJ, Hickie IB, et al. Funding for mental health research: the gap remains. Med J Aust 2011; 195: 681-684. <MJA full text>
2. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Causes of death, Australia, 2013. Canberra: ABS, 2015. (ABS Cat. No. 3303.0.) http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/3303.0 (accessed May 2015).
3. National Health and Medical Research Council. Mental health (NHPA). https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/grants-funding/research-funding-statistics-and-data/funding-statistics-grants-and-funding-data/menta (accessed Mar 2015).
4. National Health and Medical Research Council. Injury related issues (NHPA). https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/grants-funding/research-funding-statistics-and-data/funding-statistics-grants-and-funding-data/injur (accessed Mar 2015).
5. National Health and Medical Research Council. Cancer (NHPA). https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/grants-funding/research-funding-statistics-and-data/funding-statistics-grants-and-funding-data/cance (accessed Mar 2015).

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