The factors contributing to suicide are complex and not always related to mental illness. I think people would be surprised to learn that recent data shows around a quarter of Australians who reported having suicidal thoughts or behaviours in the past 12 months had no symptoms of a mental disorder or had never met diagnostic criteria for a mental disorder.
Research also indicates that a third of Australians aged 16 to 85 years report that they were close to someone who died by suicide or have attempted to take their own life. This means that if you haven’t been directly impacted or affected by suicide, you probably know someone who has.
We want to ensure that the training we offer continues to be relevant, accessible and effective for those who need it most. Whether you are a parent, teacher, student, volunteer, worker, or find yourself supporting people in distress in any other way, we want to hear from you.
I encourage people in our community to take the survey, which will take no more than 5 minutes to complete, by Friday 28 February to assist us in our planning. Participants may remain anonymous, though those who choose to provide contact details will receive information about training opportunities that result from the survey.
If the content of this article has brought up strong emotions for you and you would like to seek support, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or reach out to one of the services listed on our website.