How to talk to somebody about suicide
Discussing suicidal thoughts may seem like a daunting prospect. Learn to shape these discussions with clear and practical advice.
Read moreWhile attention and support for mental health and mental illness continue to grow, the stigma around suicide continues.
While attention and support for mental health and mental illness continue to grow, and positive steps are being taken in acknowledgement and support for people suffering from mild to severe issues, the stigma around suicide continues.
Suicide remains an unspoken and avoided topic in Australia, and common labels are applied to the person who ended their life; they’re selfish or they took the easy way out.
The unfortunate side effect of this can result in people not seeking help when they need it, while those who have lived experience of suicide internalise their feelings of shame because of this perception of how they’re viewed by their peers and society.
Stigma also affects those bereaved by suicide. Research suggests that those bereaved by suicide report higher levels of rejection, shame and blame than other bereaved people. Misinformed reactions to suicide can result in avoidance and uncertainty about how to approach someone about their grief and loss. Many people bereaved by suicide find themselves avoiding the disclosure of the cause of death as a result of the anticipated stigmatised responses, which contributes to a lack of awareness in the community.
If you are worried about someone, and need someone to talk to, call the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 to speak to a counsellor.
If it is an emergency, please call 000.
Discussing suicidal thoughts may seem like a daunting prospect. Learn to shape these discussions with clear and practical advice.
Read moreDomestic violence is when one person in a relationship hurts the other person. The violence and abuse can be physical, verbal, sexual, social, economic, spiritual and psychological. Understand what the signs of domestic violence are.
Read moreAustralia’s 2018 suicide statistics showed a shocking 9 per cent increase in the number of people who took their own lives. What can you do to help reverse these figures?
Read moreTake the time to support your work colleagues. They may be struggling, becoming withdrawn and not coping with their workload. If they are going through a tough time, there are a few things you can do to support them.
Read more