We all have a role in preventing suicide
It’s crucial to pause and reflect on the urgent need for collective action in preventing suicide. On 10 September each year, we have the opportunity to rally together for World Suicide Prevention Day.
In Australia, we face a sobering reality: each day about eight people die by suicide, and it remains the leading cause of death for people aged between 15 – 49.
This week the Final Report of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide was tabled. This report includes data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare that states at least 1,677 serving and ex-serving ADF members died by suicide between 1997 and 2021. This is more than 20-times the number of Defence personnel killed in active duty over the same period. However, the Royal Commission estimates the true number of preventable deaths to be upwards of 3,000.
This data reinforces the need for action.
Suicide Prevention Australia’s ‘We All Have a Role to Play’ campaign highlights the collective responsibility we all share.
From friends to family to colleagues and community members, the campaign emphasises the crucial role each of us plays in supporting those around us. Recognising the signs of distress, engaging in open conversations, and reducing stigma are all essential actions that contribute to a supportive environment.
One of the impactful ways people have come together this year was through Lifeline’s Out of the Shadows Walk. Each year these walks across the country serve as a poignant tribute to those no longer with us, offering a moment to honour their memory and show solidarity with family and friends. Not only do events like these acknowledge the pain of loss, but they also foster a sense of community and support. We also have an opportunity to come together tomorrow to ask ‘R U OK?’, to connect with others around us and talk about what’s really going on.
It is important we all work together to build a culture where mental health is openly discussed and where people feel safe seeking help – and that we have an accessible, effective and integrated mental health system, that is able to respond. It’s about creating a network that reaches every corner of the community and ensures everyone has access to the supports they need when and how they need it.
Addressing social and economic drivers, along with better support for the mental health system, are highlighted as key recommendations in the government’s draft advice on the latest National Suicide Prevention Strategy released yesterday. This will be open for consultation until 27 October.
With World Suicide Prevention Day still in our minds this week, let’s renew our dedication to these crucial efforts and continue to advocate for better mental health supports and suicide prevention.
Carolyn Nikoloski
CEO, Mental Health Australia
If you, or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call 000, visit your nearest hospital emergency department, or use any of these crisis helplines:
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