Suicide is a challenging topic to think and talk about. It’s also highly complex – the truth is that we often don’t know why people take, or attempt to take, their own lives.

Sometimes when people are experiencing severe mental health issues or facing a situation they can’t cope with, they may attempt to end their life. They might get to a point where they feel this is their only option to relieve suffering and unbearable pain.

Suicide is the leading cause of death in men under the age of 45. LGBTIQ+ people have the highest rates of both suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts in Australia; fifteen per cent of lesbian, gay and bisexual people report current suicidal thoughts, and same sex attracted Australians have up to fourteen times higher rates of suicide attempts.¹