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. LGBTI 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