The spike comes despite more funding for suicide prevention, prompting calls for the federal government to set a national target to reduce the rate by 25 per cent in five years.
It's being described as a national tragedy.
The latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics on causes of death show that in 2017, 3,128 people died from suicide.
That’s up 9 ((9.1)) per cent compared to the year before.
The figure equates to about 8.6 suicides a day - 12.6 people taking their own lives in every 100,000 people - the equal-highest rate in a decade.
Lifeline CEO John Brogden says the spike comes despite an increase in funding for suicide prevention.
Drought has been suggested as a factor but just what is behind the increase, no-one knows for certain.
Mr Brogden has a theory.
Support service Lifeline is urging Australia to follow in Scotland's footsteps and adopt a national target to reduce suicide by 25 per cent in five years.
In 2002, Scotland's Choose Life campaign set a goal to reduce suicide by 20 per cent in ten years.
They came very close, achieving an 18 per cent reduction by 2013.
Mr Brogden says a target would make the government and society more accountable.
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