Morrison leads mental health effort

TAKING action on the "very serious curse" of suicide and mental health breakdown has emerged as one of Scott Morrison's chief goals of the COAG meeting.

The Prime Minister said the heads of each state and territory had agreed to pursue a national approach on mental health.

"We all share the goal of going towards a zero policy on suicide in this country," he said.

"It breaks the heart of every single member represented here."

Mr Morrison said everybody in the room knew a tragic story "whether it's of a veteran, a young girl in an indigenous community" or anybody else who had been a victim to the scourge.

"We're very committed to breaking this by ensuring we have mental health as a national priority," he said.

The group also signed its fourth national action plan agenda to address domestic violence and violence against women.