World Suicide Prevention Day
NSW Mental Health Line
Suicide Prevention
Help is available
Suicide Prevention Policies and Plans
Suicide Prevention Resources:
World Suicide Prevention Day 10 September 2022
World Suicide Prevention Day is held each year on 10 September. World Suicide Prevention Day is a chance for us to raise awareness of the impact of suicide in our communities and share support for the people that need it.
The day is observed by more than 60 countries, with the aim of promoting stigma reduction, policy change, help seeking, and remembering those we have lost to suicide, those who have attempted suicide, and those who are living with the grief of losing someone.
For more information about World Suicide Prevention Day visit the Suicide Prevention Australia Website.
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NSW Mental Health Line 1800 011 511
A single number, state-wide 24-hour mental health telephone access service.
If you, or someone you know, are in immediate danger, please call 000 or go to your nearest hospital Emergency Department.
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Suicide Prevention
Suicide can affect us all. One in every 100 deaths worldwide is the result of suicide. In the past 12 months one in four Australians report knowing someone who died by suicide or attempted suicide. Key drivers of distress include social isolation, the economy and jobs. These issues, which are often linked to major social and economic events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, are particularly relevant at this time. (Suicide Prevention Australia 2021)
Culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities may experience additional vulnerabilities including challenges with the migration process, such as escaping war or experiencing torture or trauma, resettlement and acculturation difficulties, separation from family , unemployment, financial insecurity, non-recognition of overseas qualifications and racism and discrimination. Some people from CALD communities may be less likely to seek help for mental distress that contributes to suicide risk, due to factors such as language barriers, limited knowledge about available services and resources, stigma, religious beliefs and concerns about confidentiality.
We can all have an impact however small, on suicidal behaviours within our communities. Suicidal thoughts are complex and everyone is different, however by listening to others and showing we care, encouraging understanding and sharing our own experiences we can all make a difference. Creating environments which support diversity within homes, communities, schools, workplaces, health settings, support networks, and in the broader social domains will contribute to giving people hope and a sense of belonging, which is fundamental to suicide prevention.
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Help is Available
If you, or someone you know, are in immediate danger, please call 000 or go to your nearest hospital Emergency Department.
Help is available if you, or someone you know, is thinking about suicide or experiencing a personal crisis or distress. Talk to someone you trust about what you are thinking, such as a friend, family member or your GP, or contact one of these services:
NSW Mental Health Line 1800 011 511
A single number, state-wide 24-hour mental health telephone access service.
Lifeline 13 11 14
Provides all Australians experiencing a personal crisis with access to 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention services.
Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467
A nationwide service that provides professional 24/7 telephone and online counselling to people who are affected by suicide.
Beyond Blue 1300 224 636
Provides information and support to help everyone in Australia achieve their best possible mental health. www.beyondblue.org.au
Kids Helpline 1800 551 800
A free, private and confidential, telephone and online counselling service specifically for young people aged between 5 and 25.
MensLine Australia 1300 78 99 78
A telephone and online support, information and referral service for men.
QLife 1800 184 527
A nationally-oriented counselling and referral service for LGBTI people operating from 3pm to Midnight, every day.
Additional Suicide Prevention and Postvention Organisations
- RUOK? Day
RUOK is a suicide prevention charity in Australia, reminding people that having meaningful conversations with mates and loved ones could save lives.
- Standby Support after Suicide
Standby is focused on supporting anyone who has been bereaved or impacted by suicide at any stage in their life, including individuals, families and friends, witnesses, first responders and service providers.
- Suicide Prevention Australia
Suicide Prevention Australia provides national leadership for the suicide prevention sector in Australia. SPA works collaboratively to develop a community that knows how to ask for help and how to give help.
- Suicide Call Back Service
Suicide Call Back Service is a nationwide service that provides 24/7 telephone, video and online professional counselling to people who are affected by suicide. To get immediate help now call 1300 659 467.
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Suicide Prevention Policies and Plans
- Strategic Framework for Suicide Prevention in NSW 2018-2023 - The Framework has been developed by the NSW Mental Health Commission and the NSW Ministry of Health in collaboration with people with lived experience of a suicide attempt or suicide bereavement, government agencies, mental health organisations and experts in suicide prevention.
- Towards Zero Suicides initiatives - The Towards Zero Suicides initiatives seek to provide leading best practice crisis care and support, build on local community resilience and improve systems and practices to reduce the suicide rate in NSW.
- Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan – commits all governments to integrated mental health and suicide prevention action from 2017 to 2022
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Suicide Prevention Resources
The following resources are designed to assist us to take action to create change around suicide prevention in our communities.
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Conversations Matter Resources for discussing suicide
Conversations Matter is a practical online resource to support safe and effective community discussions about suicide. The resources provide practical information for communities and professionals to guide conversations about suicide. The Conversations Matter resources include ‘Supporting CALD communities to talk about suicide - a guide for professionals’ which was developed in partnership with Everymind, the Transcultural Mental Health Centre and the Mental Health Commission of NSW to provide practical tips for professionals to refer to when talking about suicide with CALD individuals, families and communities in a range of settings.
Visit the Conversations Matter website here
View Supporting CALD communities to talk about suicide here
- Suicide in refugees and asylum seekers
Everymind has developed the following resources about suicide in refugees and asylum seekers
Risk factors for mental illness and suicidality in refugees and asylum seekers
Identifying suicide risk in refugees and asylum seekers
Responding to suicide in refugees and asylum seekers
- Multilingual Suicide Prevention Resources
Queensland Health, Supporting a person in your community who is suicidal available in Arabic (PDF), Chinese (PDF file), Dutch (PDF file), English (PDF file), Farsi (Persian) (PDF file), German (PDF file), Hakka (PDF file), Hazaragi (PDF file), Hindi (PDF file), Italian (PDF file), Japanese (PDF file), Karen (PDF file), Korean (PDF file), Maori (PDF file), Nepali (PDF file), Polish (PDF file), Punjabi (PDF file), Rohingya (PDF file), Russian (PDF file), Samoan (PDF file), Somali (PDF file), Spanish (PDF file), Swahili (PDF file), Tamil (PDF file), Thai (PDF file), Tigrinya (PDF file) and Vietnamese (PDF file).
- General multilingual mental health resources
Transcultural Mental Health Centre multilingual mental health resources
Embrace Multicultural Mental Health multilingual mental health resource
Beyond Blue Coronavirus and mental health in multicultural communities
This Way Up multilingual resources
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Walking Together: Mental Health in NSW's Multicultural Communities
The Walking Together video is a resource developed by the Mental Health Commission of New South Wales highlighting the experience of mental illness within NSW’s culturally and linguistically diverse communities, as well as local leaders’ ideas to increase help-seeking and prevent suicide among community members.
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