Every year on 10 September, communities, organisations and governments across Australia and around the globe come together to mark World Suicide Prevention Day. It is a time to reflect, connect, and recommit to our shared goal of preventing suicide and spreading hope.
Led by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP), the World Health Organization (WHO) and Suicide Prevention Australia, this year’s theme, ‘Changing the Narrative on Suicide’, challenges us to transform how we think and talk about suicide.
It’s a call to shift from silence and stigma to openness, empathy and action, to ensure those who are struggling feel heard, supported, and connected. Together, we can help create a future where more lives are saved and more stories are shared.
In Australia, suicide remains the leading cause of death among people aged 15 – 44. Every year, more than 3,000 Australians die by suicide, and over 55,000 make an attempt. These are not just numbers, they are families, friends, colleagues and communities.
Behind every statistic is a story.
At Community Mental Health Australia, we stand with our member organisations and the communities they serve in continuing the work of prevention. We believe that by building inclusive, connected, and compassionate communities alongside psychosocial supports we can help create a future where more lives are saved and more stories are shared.
On World Suicide Prevention Day, we remember those we have lost, we hold space for those who are grieving, and we recommit ourselves to creating hope through action.
Together, we can change the narrative.