Suicide is the act of ending your own life on purpose. More than 3,200 Australians died by suicide in 2023.
Suicidal behaviour is any action or thought that relates to suicide. It can include:
1 in 6 Australians between 16 and 85 years of age has experienced suicidal behaviour at some stage in their life.
There are many risk factors that may lead someone to have suicidal behaviours. Risk factors for suicide include:
It's not always obvious that a person is struggling with suicidal thoughts or behaviours. However, many people do show some warning signs before they attempt suicide. They may:
Sometimes there are no warning signs of suicide. If you are worried about someone, ask if they are okay and seek professional advice.
Talking to someone who has suicidal thoughts can reduce stigma and encourage them to get help.
If someone you know has suicidal thoughts, it's best to act immediately. This may help stop them from attempting suicide.
There are four key steps to follow when talking to someone who has suicidal thoughts.
Learn about mental health and suicide to better understand what the person may be going through. You can ask your doctor for advice.
You can read more about supporting someone with depression or a mental illness.
Remember to look after yourself as well. Helping a suicidal person can make you feel stressed or overwhelmed, so it's important that you also find someone to talk to.
If you are with someone who is going to attempt suicide, you should:
For more information on 24/7 Mental health helplines.
People in the following groups are more at risk of suicide.
Recent studies showed that people 16 to 24 years of age have the highest rates of suicidal behaviour.
Young people may attempt suicide for many reasons, including if they:
If you know a child or young person who has been affected by suicide in their family, it's very important to provide support and maintain open communication with them.
If a child or young person talks about suicide, ask them if they are thinking about suicide. You can help them get professional support.
Males account for most deaths by suicide in Australia — around 3 in 4. This may be because Australian males are often less likely to seek help about their mental health, including from:
In 2023, males aged 55 to 59 years of age had the highest rate of suicide.
The suicide rate among Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people is higher than the rest of the Australian population. This may be due to:
People who have previously attempted suicide are more likely to die by suicide than those who haven't.
It's important to keep supporting anyone who has previously attempted suicide. People who have tried to take their own life are at risk of trying again, especially in the first year after their suicide attempt.
There's a strong link between suicide and many mental health conditions, such as:
Recent statistics show that almost half of all LGBTIQA+ people have experienced suicidal behaviour in their lifetime. This may be due to:
People from CALD backgrounds may be at higher risk of suicide due to:
Australia has one of the largest multicultural populations in the world. In some cultures, there's stigma surrounding mental health issues that means people are less likely to seek mental health help.
Older Australians may have a higher risk of suicide due to:
The risk of suicide increases when people don't seek professional help for mental health issues. This is more common among older Australians due to:
It's important to pay attention to the wellbeing of older people in your family, neighbourhood and community. You may need to assist them in getting professional help.
With support, suicide is preventable. There are ways you can help to prevent yourself and others from suicidal behaviour.
Ways to reduce the chance of suicidal behaviour include:
If you or someone else is having suicidal thoughts, encourage them to get help. Talking to your doctor is a good first step. They can refer you to another mental health professional if needed.
Having a healthy lifestyle can also help prevent suicidal thoughts and behaviour. You can:
If you are at risk of suicide, it's important to have a safety plan. This can help you take care of yourself when things get tough, or if you are having suicidal thoughts.
Lifeline has a suicide safety planning app called Beyond Now (Opens in new tab).
If you or someone else have suicide warning signs, there is information and support available.
You can read more about mental health resources and services in Australia.
There are mental health support services available in each state and territory.
If you are an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait islander person, there is mental health support available.
The Australian Government offers a free translation service (Opens in new tab). If English is not your preferred language, you can call 131 450. You can request an interpreter 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
You can also visit the Embrace Multicultural Mental Health (Opens in new tab) website for resources in multiple languages.
You can also call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
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Last reviewed: November 2025
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