The Australian Bureau of Statistics has released the Causes of Death, Australia, 2012 report, including data on deaths by self-harm, which has revealed deaths by suicide have reached a 10-year peak of 2535.

Lifeline chief executive officer Jane Hayden said they were troubling numbers.

“We believe suicide is mostly preventable so something has to change; these grim statistics must lead to action,” she said.

“Suicide prevention is a whole community responsibility including governments, corporations and individuals.”

For the first time in Lifeline’s history, it answered more than 700,000 calls in the past 12 months.

“However, it’s unfortunate that more than 160,000 help seekers were placed on hold and chose to hang up because we couldn’t reach them in time,” she said.

“We cannot have another year of potentially suicidal people calling 13 11 14 and being made to wait unreasonable times.”

To find out more about volunteering or donating visit www.lifeline.org.au.

If you’re thinking about harming yourself or ending your life, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 (24 hours a day).